Experienced Support when Confronted with End-of-Life Decisions in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Nationwide Population Survey among Neonatologists and Neonatal Nurses

The author is an African American neonatologist who has worked in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for the past twenty years. Despite belief systems being unique and diverse, he believes they serve an important role in society, especially in the context of NICU care. In this chapter, the author attempts to describe what he considers to be some salient points about being a provider in the NICU and the role that a family’s belief system plays in critical and end-of-life care for their newborn. He tries to emphasize how belief systems are complex and personal.

Download Full-text

105 ATTITUDES TOWARDS PALLIATIVE AND END-OF-LIFE CARE IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

Journal of Investigative Medicine ◽

10.1136/jim-52-suppl1-105 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. S97.1-S97

Author(s):

K. Yaeger ◽

A. Murphy ◽

K. Braccia ◽

M. Coyle ◽

J. Anderson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽

End Of Life ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Life Care

Download Full-text

Psychological support in end-of-life decision-making in neonatal intensive care units: Full population survey among neonatologists and neonatal nurses

Palliative Medicine ◽

10.1177/0269216319888986 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (3) ◽

pp. 430-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Laure Dombrecht ◽

Joachim Cohen ◽

Filip Cools ◽

Luc Deliens ◽

Linde Goossens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care ◽

End Of Life ◽

Intensive Care Units ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Psychological Support ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care Units ◽

End Of Life Decisions ◽

Life Decisions ◽

End Of Life Decision ◽

Life Decision

Background: Moral distress and burnout related to end-of-life decisions in neonates is common in neonatologists and nurses working in neonatal intensive care units. Attention to their emotional burden and psychological support in research is lacking. Aim: To evaluate perceived psychological support in relation to end-of-life decisions of neonatologists and nurses working in Flemish neonatal intensive care units and to analyse whether or not this support is sufficient. Design/participants: A self-administered questionnaire was sent to all neonatologists and neonatal nurses of all eight Flemish neonatal intensive care units (Belgium) in May 2017. The response rate was 63% (52/83) for neonatologists and 46% (250/527) for nurses. Respondents indicated their level of agreement (5-point Likert-type scale) with seven statements regarding psychological support. Results: About 70% of neonatologists and nurses reported experiencing more stress than normal when confronted with an end-of-life decision; 86% of neonatologists feel supported by their colleagues when they make end-of-life decisions, 45% of nurses feel that the treating physician listens to their opinion when end-of-life decisions are made. About 60% of both neonatologists and nurses would like more psychological support offered by their department when confronted with end-of-life decisions, and 41% of neonatologists and 50% of nurses stated they did not have enough psychological support from their department when a patient died. Demographic groups did not differ in terms of perceived lack of sufficient support. Conclusion: Even though neonatal intensive care unit colleagues generally support each other in difficult end-of-life decisions, the psychological support provided by their department is currently not sufficient. Professional ad hoc counselling or standard debriefings could substantially improve this perceived lack of support.

Download Full-text