The aim of this study was to gain insight into nurses '(N = 8) experience of working in a neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU) that incorporated the developmental-care approach Although Als's model isfamily centered, the basic social process identified by nurses was putting the babyfirst. The process of putting the baby first was uncovered using grounded-theory methodology. The process included three phases: learning, reacting, and advocating/nonadvocating. In each of the phases, four main concepts-encountering, appraising, supporting, and gaining sensitivity-emergedfrom the data. Nurses appraised the advantages and disadvantages of this therapeutic approach not only to the infant but also to themselves.
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