Background: Nurse-mother communication is one of the challenges in neonatal units, and many ethical discussions in these units are caused by communication problems between mothers and nurses. The present study was conducted to determine the status of nurse-mother communication in neonatal units in Bushehr province.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in six hospitals of Bushehr province in ۱۴۰۰.
Nurses and mothers who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study by census method during ۲ months. Data collection tools included demographic information forms and questionnaires of nurses' and mothers' perception of nurse-mother communication. The validity and reliability of questionaires have been confirmed in previous studies. Data collected from ۱۰۴ nurses and ۲۳۶ mothers were analyzed by SPSS version ۲۴, using descriptive statistics and related statistical tests at a significance level of ۰.۵.Findings: The mean score of mothers' perception of nurse-mother communication was ۵۹.۲۷±۱۲.۸۲ (at the average level) and the mean score of nurses' perception of nurse-mother communication was ۷۳.۳۷±۹.۵۷ (at the high level). Also, a statistically significant correlation was seen between the mean score of mothers' perception of nurse-mother communication with admitted unit and gestational age of the baby. A statistically significant relationship was also found between nurses' perception of nurse-mother communication with their employment status.Conclusions: Considering the existing difference between perceptions of nurses and mothers of nurse-mother communication in neonatal units, the planning is needed to enhance the role of nurses and strengthen their communication skills in line with the family-centered care approach. So, it is suggested that nursing authorities provide a platform for training nurses and familiarizing them with the needs of mothers.