The Influence of Nurses' Attitudes, Beliefs, and Biases Toward Families on Family-Centered Care Delivery in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Grounded Theory

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine nurses’ attitudes, beliefs, and biases toward families and the influence these views have on the implementation of family-centered care in the neonatal intensive care unit and to uncover social processes underlying practice. Straussian grounded theory method was used to achieve this purpose and develop a substantive theory. Ten registered nurses working at least one shift per week in the NICU were interviewed by phone or Zoom web conference. Data were analyzed using constant comparison methods, leading to the identification of categories, subcategories, and one core category that are integrated into the substantive theory displayed in the model Nurse Appraisal of Families and Resulting Family-Centered Care Practice.