NEWBORN HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PREPARATION IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE TREATMENT UNIT: A FAMILYS VISION PREPARO PARA ALTA HOSPITALAR DO RECÉM-NASCIDO DE RISCO EM UMA UNIDADE DE TRATAMENTO INTENSIVO NEONATAL: UMA VISÃO DA FAMÍLIA PREPARACIÓN PARA EL ALTA HOSPITALARIA DEL RECIÉN-NACIDO EN UNIDAD DE TRATAMIENTO INTENSIVO NEONATAL: UNA VISIÓN DE LA FAMILIA

The hospital discharge preparation for the newborn is of fundamental importance to reduce the expectations of relatives on the care when he/she returns to home. The orientations seeking to the discharge should begin from the admission. The objective was to analyze the family preparation for hospital discharge of newborn in a Neonatal Intensive Treatment Unit and to verify the family knowledge as for the disease and to the cares with newborn in the home. It is a descriptive study, of a qualitative nature, accomplished in a neonatal intensive treatment unit at Fortaleza, from December/2003 to june/2004. It was used as technique for collecting data, a semi-structured interview and the direct observation. The data were organized through content analysis. We verified that the families were partially prepared to assume cares with Rn without supervision, manifesting difficulties to accomplish some activities. We identified that the family expectation is to have the new integral home free from risks, as parents looking for to live the maternity and paternity fully until then postponed. Parents have revealed some knowledge on the disease and the child's treatment. We verified need to improve the communication process between group and family in the preparation for hospital discharge. Descriptors: neonatology; neonatal nursing, nursing care; newborn.