Purpose
Respectful care in the NICU is an approach that ensures infants and their families are treated with dignity, compassion, and partnership throughout the baby's care. Its purpose extends beyond providing excellent medical treatment—it also supports the emotional, developmental, and cultural needs of both the newborn and the family.
Key purposes of respectful care in the NICU include:
- Protecting the dignity of every infant
- Supporting families as partners in care
- Building trust and communication
- Respecting cultural, religious, and personal values
- Promoting infant development
- Reducing stress and improving family well-being
- Improving health outcomes
Initiative Aim
By September 2027, all 15 Nebraska NICUs will be participating in Respectful Care in the NICU to improve neonatal outcomes and family experiences.
Key QI Strategies:
Establish Respectful Care practices during admission and survey caregivers on their experience before discharge.
Take steps to engage parents/caregivers to provide input on quality improvement efforts.
Implement family-integrated patient rounding.
Standardize a process for implementing an individualized discharge plan
Facilitate coaching for caregivers on infant care.
Implement education for providers, nurses, and staff on preventing trauma, practicing active listening and shared decision-making, and obtaining consent.
Implement NPREM survey.
Standardize a process for PMH screening and referral.
Thank you to The Nebraska Alliance for Maternal and Infant Health (NAMIH), Rooted Life Empowerment, The Reproductive Psychiatry team at Nebraska Medicine, A Mother's Love, and Nebraska's Neonatal Advisory Group.
