Adaptation of the hospital
Each divisions, wing or unit of a hospital is a social entity. The entire social environment of the nursery unit changes when parents are permitted to enter or to telephone 24 hours a day. Before shifting to a new, more flexible visiting policy, the personnel must be thouroughly prepared. In the era before mothers and fathers were allowed free access, the nursery was like a home with the head nurse as majordomo. It has been our experience that nurses in these units often develop close attachments to the babies they care for intimately day by day . As mothers and fathers entered this unit, which had been the domain of the nurses, some changes in orientation were required. There was the ovious, simple need for nurses to adjust to the fact of the parent’s presence and all that implied. Nurses must realize that it is beneficial for parents to share responsibilities for the care of their infant and his small portion of the nursery with the nursing and medical staff. It is not easy patiently to explain to anxious parents how to carry out a procedure that the nurse or physician enjoys, is in the habit of doing, and can manage more efficiently. A further complication arises from the fact that mother and nurse are often jealous of one another, and these feelings must be anticipated, discussed, and resolve before the new nursery setup can run properly. It is the long term outcome that must be kept in mind and the fact that the parents will be responsible for providing total care for the baby after discharge.
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