MOTHERS PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR NICU EXPERIENCE 1 AND 7 MONTHS AFTER-DISCHARGE

Interviews were conducted with 36 mothers of premature infants to asse ss their perceptions and satisfaction with their infants' care 1 and 7 months after discharge from the NICU. The extent to which mothers rec eived information that assisted them in caring for their infant at hom e also was assessed. In general, nearly all mothers reported receiving information related to their baby's health and routine care of their baby, such as bathing and feeding. in contrast, many reported not rece iving information about developmental issues or on topics such as tran sfer of medical records and payment for the hospitalization. Results s uggest that parents have informational needs that may not be met throu gh traditional discharge teaching. Recommendations for meeting these n eeds through an individualized transition planner are provided.