Navigating the NICU Without Words: A Case Study of a Spanish-Speaking Mother’s Healthcare Experience

Authors

• Emma Norris, University of South AlabamaFollow

Files

Description

Research on NICU experiences largely focuses on majority-language families; non-English-speaking families are understudied (Cleveland, 2008). The Family Integrated Care model promotes parent-infant connection and shared decision-making to improve outcomes (Wreesmann et al., 2020). Language barriers impede parent-provider communication, increasing miscommunication and parental anxiety (Kynoe et al., 2020; Ardal et al., 2011). The purpose of this research is to explore communication experiences and barriers between English-speaking and bilingual NICU nurses and a Spanish-speaking NICU mother.

Publication Date

5-2026

Disciplines

Critical Care | Emergency Medicine | Family Medicine | Health Communication | International and Intercultural Communication | Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing | Pediatric Nursing | Pediatrics | Public Health and Community Nursing

Recommended Citation

Norris, Emma, "Navigating the NICU Without Words: A Case Study of a Spanish-Speaking Mother’s Healthcare Experience" (2026). Poster Presentations. 55.
https://jagworks.southalabama.edu/honors_college_posters/55