Parents who have a baby receiving care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) likely all experience emotional distress and are at elevated risk of experiencing trauma. The NICU environment is a potential source of traumatic stress for parents and often the risk for neonatal death is substantial. While the stressors facing parents are considerable, the effects can be minimized through implementation of trauma-informed care. The Family Guidance Tool was developed to help parents and healthcare professionals in a NICU setting utilize a strengths-based approach to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding while encouraging the family to be the guide. This practical tool shows promise to mitigate stress often experienced by parents in a NICU setting.
Keywords: Neonatal intensive care unit; parents and pediatric healthcare; trauma informed care.