Question

A nurse is preparing to care for a newborn who has respiratory distress syndrome. Which initial action should the nurse plan to best facilitate bonding between the newborn and the parents?

a) Encourage the parents to touch their newborn.
b) Identify specific caregiving tasks that may be assumed by the parents.
c) Explain the equipment that is used and how it functions to assist their newborn.
d) Give the parents pamphlets that will help them understand their newborn's condition.

Answer 1

To facilitate bonding between a newborn with RDS and their parents, a nurse should encourage parents to touch their newborn as the sense of touch is well-developed and vital for bonding and the newborn's positive response to gentle contact.

Step-by-step explanation:

The initial action a nurse should plan to best facilitate bonding between the newborn with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and the parents is a) Encourage the parents to touch their newborn. The sense of touch is a powerful mechanism for bonding and has numerous benefits for both the parents and the newborn. Newborns have a well-developed sense of touch and respond positively to gentle contact, such as soft stroking and cuddling, which can provide comfort and facilitate emotional connections.

Moreover, since newborns possess innate reflexes like the Moro reflex and the grasping reflex, they inherently seek close physical contact, and enabling parents to touch their newborn promotes the expression of these nurturing behaviors. The nurse can also provide guidance on safe touching techniques, especially if the newborn is receiving medical support like ventilation or CPAP.