The home care nurse is planning an initial visit to a family whose infant, delivered at 35 weeks, developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. Which of the following should the nurse include when planning care for this client and family?

Question

1. Parents were involved with care throughout the infant's hospitalization.
2. The attachment process will have developed the same as with an infant at term.
3. This infant has the same risk factors for developing infections as does a term infant.
4. Risks for cognitive or emotional or developmental delays are low.

Answer 1

1. Parents were involved with care throughout the infant's hospitalization.

Rationale:
It is common for parents of sick infants to be encouraged to perform infant care throughout the hospital stay, including staying overnight the last few nights before discharge. Attachment is often delayed with sick newborns, and the parents must grieve the loss of the perfect term infant before they can begin the attachment process. Infants born prematurely who develop respiratory distress are at an increased risk for other respiratory infections throughout their childhood. Due to multiple factors, including delayed attachment and the disease process itself, infants who are premature or sick are at risk for cognitive, emotional, intellectual, and developmental delays.