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Table 4 Nursing interview analysis theme 3 and subthemes: professional reflections

From: Nursing & parental perceptions of neonatal care in Central Vietnam: a longitudinal qualitative study

Theme: (subtheme)

T1

T2

T3

Professional reflections:

Sense of pride

“I’m proud to have helped some babies overcome the death and get well” (N16)

“I’m proud to see the facility is good, the nurses after being trained now work better, and the patients are being treated better” (N14)

“I feel proud to have contributed to the recovery of the babies” (N2)

“[the] neonatal unit now have full equipment from sponsored projects, not lacking as before, therefore we have much more opportunities to treat patients” (N3)

“I feel proud to have contributed to the recovery of the babies and I feel happy for the babies to be discharged” (N7)

“I think that the neonatal unit has changed both in awareness and in practice. I am proud to work here” (N5)

Changes nurses would make about working environment

“I am just a nurse I don’t want to change anything” (N2)

“We should review our mistakes and learn from that experience in order that we will not feel remorse for the mistakes we make” (N2)

“I look forward to passing on my knowledge and experience to junior nurses in order that they are able to care for newborn babies better” (N9)

Perceptions of professional training

“I gained a lot [of] benefits. I know more problems that need to be tackled. The newborns do have feeling for pain too, and now I listen to them, watch them carefully” (N11)

“The course has changed me a lot. Previously, I did not know the babies perception so I cared less about them. But after completing the training, I know more about their psychology and I know their feelings as well. I also know the joy, the sorrow, and the pain of the babies that rely on their faces. The more I talk to them, the more I love them” (N9)

“After the training I am thinking more about the psychology of the baby which can affect her treatment and prolong hospitalization” (N14)

Perceptions of personal improvements

T1: “Change me 100%, in both my perception and my practice” (N4)

T2: “I feel confident caring for newborn babies and am extremely grateful to all the teachers for that” (N16)

T3: “After the training, my clinical practice changed a lot. I feel more responsible for my work” (N13)

Advice for new neonatal nurses

“The most important part of a nurse’s work is caring” (N16)

“You must concentrate on the work. The baby’s future depends on us. We give the baby a good future, or not?” (N9)

“I will remind new nurses that the newborn babies know the feeling hurt and they can feel everything around. Work with all your heart” (N13)

“They should listen to the instructions from seniors and update new knowledge as much as possible” (N11)

“I advise them to treat the babies like their children to take better care” (N13)

“I hope that all of the nurses should be trained more to improve their skills” (N10)