Nursing interventions: caring for parents of a newborn transferred to a regional intensive care nursery--a challenge for low risk obstetric specialists.

Parents of infants transferred to a regional NICU have unique needs for support when the mother remains in the hospital of birth. Suddenly in a high risk situation and faced with family separation, these parents may display intense grief and crisis reactions related to their infant's status and transfer. The high risk interventions they require are frequently incongruent with the wellness orientation of staff specializing in care of the low risk clients. Nevertheless, low risk specialists have a critical role in assisting parents through this difficult transition to parenthood. Effective strategies are based upon: understanding that at some point infants requiring transfer to a regional NICU will be born; advance planning to prepare staff to assist parents during this type of crisis; establishing an ongoing relationship with staff from the regional NICU; and identification of crisis support networks available to parents and to staff within the low risk setting.