Barriers to Palliative Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit from Nurses’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study

Background: The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association Neonatal Nurses recommend that palliative care be provided as standard in neonatal intensive units (NICUs). Objectives: present study aimed to explain nurses' experiences barriers NICUs. Methods: This qualitative was conducted using content analysis approach NICUs Beheshti Amin hospitals Isfahan 2020. data were collected semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 nurses who had end-of-life for infants families. selected purposive sampling. duration each interview varied from 25 50 minutes. Data analyzed conventional inductively Graham Lundman’s approach. criteria proposed by Guba Lincoln used ensure credibility reliability data. Results: Three main categories extracted data, including unfavorable conditions (subcategorized into “unsuitable physical environment” “shortage nurses”), nurse's mental problems (with subcategories “nurses’ providing care” family care”) challenges ahead "parental presence challenge” “doctor's instructions challenge”). Conclusions: findings revealed families Given importance NICUs, effective measures must taken overcome these barriers.