Description
Child life specialists provide family-centered, developmentally supportive care for infants in the NICU. However, there is limited research concerning this role. Using an online survey, this study explores child life specialists’ responsibilities in the NICU, training received for this work, and perception of team integration. Results indicate the top three tasks performed were sibling support, palliative care/bereavement support, and family education. Developmental care tasks were ranked foremost for time prioritization. Training regarding NICU role was achieved through assorted methods. Less than half respondents felt integrated with the interdisciplinary team. Recommendations for specialized training and research implications are outlined.
2014-02