Nursing care of preterm newborns in a neonatal unit: the perspective of nursing professionals

Abstract

Prematurity puts newborns at risk due to the morphologic and functional immaturity of their organs. The objective of this study was to analyze the care provided to preterm infants by the nursing team of a neonatal unit.  This qualitative study was performed at the Neonatal Unit of a public hospital in Jequié (Bahia) with eleven professionals of the nursing team. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were subsequently submitted to thematic content analysis. Results showed that nursing professionals focus the care provided to preterm newborns mainly on biological aspects, although they value the subjective aspects involving nursing care. Therefore, it is necessary to implement norms for the humanization of care provided to preterm newborns so that nursing professionals may fully incorporate those principles.

Descriptores: Nursing Care; Infant, Premature; Neonatology.