Fighting stress in a Neonatal Care Unit: a group experience

Abstract

The present study aims at showing situations experienced by a professional team that integrates the mother-son binomial assistance at the Neonatal Care Unit (NCU) of a maternity that belongs to the Ceará Federal University, in Fortaleza-CE, from January to November 2001. A group of 18 people was formed in order to alleviate the stress experienced at the working place and to encourage chances in the team’s behavior concerning the reduction of emotional tension. The group acted Friday mornings. Group activities and relaxation techniques were used in order to call attention to the quality of human and individualized life, which promoted sensibility and the participants’ involvement. One concluded that group experience provided to the team greater understanding on the complications of stress and on self-aggrandizement due to the importance of their professional performance at work.