Mothers' Voices Related to Caregiving: The Transition of a Technology-Dependent Infant from the NICU to Home

Purpose: The transition from the NICU to home is a complicated, challenging process for mothers of infants dependent on lifesaving medical technology, such as feeding tubes, supplemental oxygen, tracheostomies, and mechanical ventilation. The study purpose was to explore how these mothers perceive their transition experiences just prior to and during the first three months after initial NICU discharge. Design: A qualitative, descriptive, longitudinal design was employed. Sample: Nineteen mothers of infants dependent on lifesaving technology were recruited from a large Midwest NICU. Main Outcome Variable: Description of mothers' transition experience. Results: Three themes were identified pretransition: negative emotions, positive cognitive-behavioral efforts, and preparation for life at home. Two posttransition themes were negative and positive transition experiences. Throughout the transition, the mothers expressed heightened anxiety, fear, and stress about life-threatening situations that did not abate over time despite the discharge education received.