Implementation of Nurse’s Listening Visits in Improving Emotionally Distressed Mothers in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Scoping Review

Background: Mothers of infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) frequently experience significant emotional distress, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. Nurse-led listening visits (NLVs) have emerged as a potential intervention to address this distress and improve maternal well-being.Methods: This scoping review followed a five-stage methodological framework, encompassing research question formulation, literature retrieval, study selection, data charting, and results reporting. Databases including Embase, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies published from 2010 to 2024, examining the implementation and impact of NLVs on mothers in the NICU.Results: The review identified thirty-eight (38) studies of diverse designs, including randomized controlled trials, qualitative studies, and systematic reviews. The evidence consistently demonstrates that NLVs are effective in reducing maternal emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Additionally, NLVs enhance mother-infant bonding, improve maternal self-efficacy, and may contribute to positive long-term outcomes.Conclusion: Nurse-led listening visits are a promising intervention for supporting the emotional well-being of mothers with infants in the NICU. This review highlights the need for further research to optimize implementation strategies, explore cultural adaptations, and investigate long-term effects. Integrating NLVs into standard NICU care could significantly improve maternal mental health outcomes and overall family well-being.