Objective
To understand, together with nursing staff, the care needed to treat skin lesions in newborn children hospitalized in a neonatal unit.
Method
Qualitative research, of the convergent care type. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which were conducted from November to December 2012, in the neonatal unit of a hospital in southern Brazil. The participants were four auxiliary nurses, six nursing technicians and four nurses.
Results
The following three categories were designated: questions about what can be used in relation to newborn children; hospitalization can cause lesions on the skin of newborn children; and knowledge about care promotes professional autonomy.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need for staff to know more about the treatment of skin lesions, which would provide safer care for newborn children and would also support the autonomy of professional nurses in providing that care.
Infant, newborn; Skin; Wounds and injuries; Therapeutics; Neonatal nursing