Pre-admission
When communicating with families and carers before their baby is admitted to the NICU or SCN, consider that they are often unprepared for the experience and how their baby might look – even if the admission is expected and they have visited before for an orientation.
Families and carers may feel helpless and overwhelmed at this pre-admission stage, so communication should:
- be brief
- use plain English
- use visuals where possible
- include positive messages.
For more, see Communicating with families and carers.
When moving from pre-admission to admission stages, see Handover.
Parents say
“It doesn't matter how prepared they try and make you. For me, it was a shock to the system. There were tubes and all the rest of it coming off every part of this tiny baby. It was confronting.”
“They drew me a picture [of his airway]. I will never forget that drawing, it just tied it all in together for me.”
Here are some examples of language and information you can share with families and carers at the pre-admission stage:
Explaining what will happen to a baby post delivery:
“The team will take your baby to an area in the delivery room or operating suite where they have the right equipment and space to provide the care your baby needs. The team will keep your baby warm, and place an oxygen mask over their face to help their breathing and inflate their lungs.”
Preparing families/carers to understand a baby’s appearance:
“How your baby looks will depend on their weeks of gestation, weight and condition at birth. Very premature babies look very small and fragile. They have thin, transparent (see-through) skin, and because it has no fat under it you can see tiny blood vessels. It feels sticky to touch. Your baby will be attached to monitors and other pieces of life-saving equipment, including those that provide fluids, nutrition and medicines through lines via veins and arteries.”
Additional resources
Safety fundamentals for person-centred communication
Key resources on effective communication for health professionals.
Source: Clinical Excellence Commission
Easy to understand information on what to expect when a baby is admitted to a NICU.
Source: raisingchildren.net.au
Provides support, information and programs for families of premature and sick newborns.
Source: Miracle Babies Foundation
Life's Little Treasures Foundation
Provides support and information for families of premature and sick newborns.
Source: Life's Little Treasures Foundation
Friendly faces, helping hands foundation
Information hub for rural patients, carers and families to access practical information and support when hospitalisation is required a long way from home, kin and country.
Source: Friendly Faces Helping Hands Foundation
Staff say
“We need to remember that although the unit environment is our everyday, for families and carers it is very different and often overwhelming.”
Using virtual care
Using virtual care and videoconferencing before admission will allow families and carers to:
- meet staff before admission or transfer, and build rapport and connection
- learn about the ward, e.g. visiting hours and ward rounds
- ask questions
- discuss how virtual care can be used to involve the other parent/carers in the baby’s care and decision making when they are not in the ward.
See Virtual Care for resources, including step-by-step instructions on making calls.