Parental and Health Care Professionals' Experiences Caring for Medically Fragile Infants on Pediatric Inpatient Units

Abstract

ABSTRACT Parents of hospitalized Medically Fragile Infants (MFI) experience stressors and mental health difficulties and Health-Care Professionals (HCP) who care for MFI experience burnout and stress. A constructivist grounded theory study was conducted among parents of MFI (N = 19) and HCP (N = 26) to understand their experiences caring for MFI in pediatric inpatient units. As parents and HCP engaged in beneficial interactions, trust was formed, and they established supportive relationships. When beneficial interactions did not occur, trust was fractured and parents and HCP were unsuccessful in establishing supportive relationships. Supportive relationships aided parents and HCP to journey alongside one another.