Mothers' Stressor as the Day of Discharge From the NICU Approaches

The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of stress and the areas of stress experienced by mothers as they prepare for their infants' transition from the neonatal intensive care unit to the home setting. A descriptive survey study was used to study mothers of infants anticipating discharge to home within 5 days. The author used a descriptive survey research design using the Parental Stressor Scale: Infant Hospitalization tool and a global measure of stress. The highest area of stress was parental role alterations. All mothers in the study reported experiencing stress related to their infants' anticipated discharge, with extremely high levels of stress reported by 34% of participants. These findings support the position that nurses are to provide guidance to mothers that strengthens their parenting role and relationship with their infants.