Palliative care delivery in the NICU: what barriers do neonatal nurses face?

Neonatal Netw. 2006 Nov-Dec;25(6):387-92. doi: 10.1891/0730-0832.25.6.387.

Abstract

Despite the existence of a universal protocol in palliative care for dying babies and their families, provision of this type of care remains ad hoc in contemporary neonatal settings. Influential bodies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization support palliative care to this patient population, so why are such measures not universally adopted? Are there barriers that prevent neonatal nurses from delivering this type of care? A search of the literature reveals that such barriers may be significant and that they have the potential to prevent dying babies from receiving the care they deserve. The goal of this literature review is to identify these barriers to providing palliative care in neonatal nursing. Results of the research have been used to determine item content for a survey to conceptualize and address these barriers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Attitude to Death
  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control
  • Burnout, Professional / psychology
  • Clinical Competence / standards
  • Clinical Protocols
  • Delivery of Health Care / ethics
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Health Facility Environment / organization & administration
  • Health Services Accessibility / ethics
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration*
  • Health Services Needs and Demand
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / ethics
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / organization & administration
  • Intensive Care, Neonatal / ethics
  • Intensive Care, Neonatal / organization & administration*
  • Intensive Care, Neonatal / psychology
  • Morals
  • Neonatal Nursing / education
  • Neonatal Nursing / ethics
  • Neonatal Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Nurse's Role / psychology
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / education
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / ethics
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / organization & administration
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology
  • Palliative Care / ethics
  • Palliative Care / organization & administration*
  • Palliative Care / psychology
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Principle-Based Ethics
  • Surveys and Questionnaires