Conceptions of the Nicu Staff on Developmental Skills of NewBorns

The comprehensive care to high-risk newborns admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (Nicu) requires trained professionals to meet the baby development needs. We evaluated knowledge of 43 nursing professionals from the Nicu of a hospital in Vitória (ES), Brazil, by means of a Questionnaire on Child Development, applied prior to a course that addressed: 1. characteristics of preterm and low birth weight infants, 2. management and pain relief and 3. interventions in the Nicu environment. After the course, participants answered a questionnaire User Satisfaction, and a form with suggestions for improvement in the Nicu. The participants have, in general, adequate perception of vulnerability, risk and protective factors for the development, and were able to suggest changes in the Nicu, after completion of the course. Participants’ satisfaction about the course was very good, highlighting its contribution to the formation of this professional.