The Dying Neonate: Family-Centered End-of-Life Care

Abstract

There is a need in the NICU for an end-of-life care guideline that nurses can follow when working with dying infants and their families. Maintaining intravenous access to relieve the infant’s pain, communicating sensitively to the family, and creating precious, everlasting memories are goals that should be part of every dying infant’s care. The nurse’s ability to partner with the family in caring for the infant is integral to helping the family take the first steps in their grief journey. Evidence-based literature provides NICU nurses with the knowledge that they are the facilitators of end-of-life care for dying infants. New mothers and fathers are not aware of the caring parental tasks they can perform for their dying baby. They look to and depend on their infant’s nurses to encourage them. The guideline included here provides nurses with a tool for ensuring that families have the opportunity to create memories that will not only help them with their immediate pain, but also comfort them for a lifetime.