This study aimed to identify the experience lived by relatives of children admitted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a hospital in Curitiba city. The data have been obtained through a half-structured interview with a sample compounded at 18 relatives of children admitted in NICU during the months of June and July in 2003. It's an exploratory descriptive study. The analysis and discussion of the data determined a central category, "experiencing the admission of the newborn in neonatal intensive care UNIT" that originated the following categories: definition of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; reasons for the admission of the newborn; perspective of information; significance of the experience; generated feelings; relatives reaction; care assessment; relatives participation in care; received assistance assessment and care involvement. In experiencing the admission of the newborn in neonatal intensive care UNIT by relatives, we concluded that despite the attention provided by the professional staff, they feel the necessity of more information, guidance, advisement and support.
Family; Intensive care unit neonatal; Nursing care