Pediatric Nursing, Infant Nursing

Child/Baby nursing is a different practice. Both the mother and the baby are cared for by a single nurse who provides total care. All policies and procedures are based on recognizing the baby as an individual in its own right. This type of nursing care requires the integration of the roles of postpartum nurses and midwives to provide comprehensive care for the mother-baby duo. It can be considered an expanded role for these maternal nurses.

Child/Baby nurses provide baby care at the mother's bedside, teach maternal skills, respond to the mother's physiological and psychological needs, and involve other family members in the care. In some cases, specialized neonatal staff may be required to observe changes, perform specific procedures, and monitor babies who cannot stay with their mothers. However, these nurses transition from midwifery to neonatal nursing.

Low cost, patient satisfaction, and improved mother-baby relationships are some of the reported positive outcomes of this system. Mother-baby care emphasizes attitude and flexibility as key elements. Staff generally fear losing control and worry about the additional learning required.

For mother-baby care to be successfully implemented, nurses must be well aware of their own roles. The focus is on providing care to the entire family as a whole rather than specialized tasks. The fundamental change required is an attitude change.

Child/Baby nursing model involves pediatricians monitoring babies at the mother's bedside. Mothers are encouraged to easily ask questions to doctors, nurses, or other mothers. The healthcare team in neonatal nursing takes every opportunity to enable the mother to care for her own baby. The role of nurses here is to be a resource and guide that provides positive support when needed.