Integrating family integrated care into neonatal practice: nursing experiences and education program development—A qualitative study

Introduction: Family Integrated Care (FICare) is an approach that empowers parents to become primary caregivers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), placing them at the centre of their baby's care. In practice, there is a diversity among nurses regarding how they view and implement FICare. An effective education and training programme must consider this diversity. Understanding both nurses' perspectives and their training needs is critical for the long-term, sustainable, and effective implementation of the FICare model. This study aims (1) to explore nurses' views and perspectives regarding the implementation of FICare in the NICU, and (2) to assess the FICare-related educational needs of NICU nurses in preparation for a curriculum update. Methods: This initial phase of an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study employed in-depth, face-to-face interviews with 23 NICU nurses, utilising a semi-structured questionnaire that included hypothetical scenarios. Results: The main themes from the inductive thematic analysis were empowering parents, supporting parents, teamwork (including support when stress is mirrored between families and nurses), FICare benefits, FICare barriers and challenges, and professionalism. Nurses emphasised the importance of individually assessing families' needs, the ripple effect of their approaches on families, and the significance of mutual interaction. They also noted that bonding and fostering family unity are the most crucial aspects of FICare. Their effects on families can last longer than the nurses' contact with them. Comprehensive education and ongoing guidance further supported effective nurse engagement in FICare. Nurses' most perceived education needs were conducting difficult conversations and providing emotional support to parents. Conclusion: We identified key facilitators, challenges, nurses' attitudes, and specific educational needs related to FICare based on nurses' experiences. These findings provide valuable guidance for improving the implementation of FICare practices in the NICU and offer essential insights to support the development of a neonatal nursing education curriculum.