Single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care: A qualitative analysis of fathers', mothers' and nurses' experiences

Abstract

Purpose

The forced temporary relocation of part of a Danish neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) offered a unique opportunity to address the study aim of examining the real-time experiences of parents and nurses with SFRs.

Design

Two focus group interviews were conducted in June 2021: one with parents of newborns occupying SFRs (n = 6) and one with nurses (n = 5). Participants completed a self-reflection exercise as preparation for semi-structured interviews. Interview data were analyzed with thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes related to parents emerged from the data: 1) a place for joy and sorrow; 2) room for free speech and the father's expanded roles, 3) simulating home, and 4) self-paced connections to the world from a safe place. One theme related to nurses emerged: silence on the unit created tension. SFRs allowed parents to fully express their emotions, initiate family bonding, and decide when and how to connect with others outside their SFR. Fathers took a more active family role in the SFR setting. Nurses valued SFRs but struggled with assessing the unit as a whole while working in them.

Conclusions

SFRs support speaking openly, expanded roles for fathers, and bonding, potentially enhancing family well-being and self-determination. Nurses found SFRs both valuable and challenging.

Practice implications

This study provides new insights in SFRs and how it affects parents and nurses. This knowledge is useful for other hospital departments where remodeling from open bay units and shared rooms to SFR is being contemplated.