The typical caring action of nursing in relation to sleep-wake cycle of preterm infant

Abstract

A qualitative study, grounded on social phenomenology of Alfred Schütz was conducted to understand the typical caring action of nursing technicians regarding the sleep-awake cycle of premature babies admitted at a neonatal unit.  Nine members of a nursing staff from a public hospital of São Paulo participated through semi-structured interviews. Through the data analysis emerged the category “acting to preserve the wellbeing of premature babies”, based on the staff knowledge, experiences and previous beliefs about  the interpretation of signs from the babies, on the importance of sleep,  and on the effects of environmental stimuli over this human being. These actions are directed with the intention to improve the quality of nursing care for babies at neonatal unit with the aim to promote their early hospital discharge without any sequel.  We concluded that actions from nursing technicians meet the neonatal developmental care model. We recommend the thematic inclusion of the neonatal care individualization and its family in the training of nursing technicians.