Discharge planning considerations for the neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge readiness is the primary caregivers’ masterful attainment of technical care skills and knowledge, emotional comfort and confidence with infant care by the time of discharge. NICU discharge preparation is the process of facilitating discharge readiness. Discharge preparation is the process with discharge readiness as the goal. Our previous work described the importance of NICU discharge readiness and strategies for discharge preparation from an American medical system perspective. NICU discharge planning is, however, of international relevance as challenges in relation to hospital discharge are a recurring global theme. In this manuscript, we conceptualise NICU discharge preparation with international perspective.