ABSTRACT
Objective:
to understand the influence of family involvement in patient safety in neonatal units from the perspective of nurses.
Method:
a descriptive qualitative study, conducted in the intermediate care unit and in the neonatal intensive care unit of a public maternity hospital in Belo Horizonte-MG (Brazil), with fourteen nurses as research participants. Data were collected through semi-structured scripts and submitted to thematic content analysis.
Results:
nurses recognize the family's participation in neonatal patient safety, however they have shown little understanding and unpreparedness in dealing with family in their daily work. Better reception/user embracement and orientation of family members were identified as significant strategies for safe care.
Conclusion:
it is believed that combining family as critical and active partners in professional health practices aimed at implementing safe practices is an important and promising strategy to promote health and patient safety.
DESCRIPTORS:
Patient safety; Intensive care units, neonatal; Family; Patient participation; Neonatal nursing