Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

4-10-2026

Faculty Mentor

Kelly McGloon

Abstract

Background

 

Caregiver mental health is often overlooked or not addressed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). When diving into the literature, themes of anxiety, stress, depression and PTSD are reported from NICU caregivers. A metanalysis study reported many caregivers received short discharge notices, and NICU staff deemed caregivers competent in using their child’s medical equipment after a 15-minute brief. The short notices and lack of knowledge in medical equipment causes caregivers to not feel confident in taking care of their infant (Padratzik, 2022). To help improve caregiver mental health, the family centered care model is the gold standard. Caregivers feel more confident in caring for their infant post-discharge, if they are made part of the care team (Craig, 2015).

Setting

The capstone experience was completed at a suburban hospital in the NICU. The NICU was composed of a medical team including but not limited to neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nurses, therapy team, dietician, pharmacist, unit manager, and social worker. The NICU has six level III beds and thirteen level II special care nursery beds.

Methods

 

The purpose of this capstone was to gain in-depth knowledge of current best practices for treating infants in the NICU, develop a thorough understanding of infants who have an altered developmental trajectory, and develop an education tool that promotes family centered care and wellness for NICU caregivers. The deliverable created for the site was “Our NICU Milestone Journey”, which allowed for caregivers to document milestones and promote family centered care. Fifteen professionals and eleven NICU caregivers provided feedback via in-person interviews.

 

Results and Discussion

NICU caregivers rated the milestone tracker highly, with 91% stating they were very likely to recommend it. Verbal caregiver feedback highlighted reduced anxiety, emotional relief, improved structure, and clear, trackable milestones that fostered positive anticipation. Nurses reported distribution was best via admission packet or laminated copies at bedside, and 100% of nurses were very likely to recommend the education tool to caregivers. Overall, “Our NICU Milestone Journey” was very well received as a family centered mental wellness tool.

Conclusion

 

Incorporating an interactive milestone tracker into the NICU allows for caregivers to get more hands-on care and experience, before discharging home. Fifteen copies of the milestone tracker were laminated and placed at the front desk for NICU staff to continue distributing to caregivers. It was recommended to the site to have NICU staff promote the use of the milestone tracker and create Spanish and Portuguese versions to reach more caregivers.

References

 

Craig JW, Glick C, Phillips R, Hall SL, Smith J, Browne J. Recommendations for involving the family in developmental care of the NICU baby. J Perinatol. 2015 Dec;35 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S5-8. doi: 10.1038/jp.2015.142. PMID: 26597804; PMCID: PMC4660048.

Padratzik, H. C., & Love, K. (2022). NICU discharge preparation and transition planning: foreword. Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association, 42(Suppl 1), 3–4. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-022-01311-x    

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