Nursing professionals’ perceptions of the care provided to the neonate with intestinal elimination ostomy

Abstract

Objectives  To understand the perception of the nursing team of the neonatal unit about the care provided to hospitalized newborns with intestinal ostomy and to discuss the factors that interfere in nursing care.

Method  Exploratory and descriptive study, with a qualitative approach. Eight nurses and eight nursing technicians who work in a Neonatal Unit in Rio de Janeiro took part. Data were collected between April and June 2022, through semi-structured interviews and content analysis.

Results  Two categories emerged: “perceptions of the nursing team regarding the care of hospitalized newborns with intestinal ostomies and family health education”; and “facilitating and hindering aspects of nursing care for newborns with intestinal ostomy and the importance of continuing education in the setting of the Neonatal Unit”.

Conclusion and implications for practice  The management of newborns with intestinal ostomies is current and involves nursing care with the stoma and skin of the newborn, extending to the practice of health education for family members. The management of complications, the unavailability of materials and fragmented care are challenging. This finding can support the development of systematized nursing interventions for newborns and their parents in the neonatal unit.

Keywords:  Nursing team; Ostomy; Perception; Newborn; Neonatal intensive care