Implications for nursing care concerning children discharged from a neonatal unit with chronic conditions

Abstract

Objective: to understand the implications for nursing care of children discharged from the neonatal intensive care with chronic conditions. Methods: a qualitative study of 14 mothers of children with chronic conditions. Individual interviews and Inventory of Pediatric Evaluation of Disability were conducted. Data submitted to thematic content analysis. Results: it was found that chronic conditions have determined the need for continuous care, varied complexity and more often than usual for children at home, in the community and network services. There were situations experienced by mothers in the care of daily life that should be considered by nurses in practice. Conclusion: the specific needs of these children require greater integration and training of nurses for the health education of caregivers, the shared home care and management in primary care, in order to facilitate the adaptation and family welfare, aimed at providing continuity of care.