July-August Cover Story

Grassroots nursing for impoverished parents: Public health nurses use all their skill and knowledge - and then some - in three innovative interventions that strive to help young, struggling families thrive.

Assessing and advising new moms on health-care issues is routine for public health nurse Lindsay Croswell. Forming an intense partnership with young women early in their first pregnancy, and empowering them to take care of themselves, is a whole new and incredibly rewarding experience. Croswell is one of six Hamilton-area nurses involved in the first Canadian pilot of an evidence-based nursing intervention called the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), which enables nurses to encourage and support low-income, first-time young mothers to make healthy decisions.

Croswell recalls working with Jennifer*, a young woman who was tormented by the fact that she didn’t know who the father of her baby was. "All through her pregnancy she had mental health issues surrounding the question of paternity," says Croswell. The mom-to-be confessed that she worried that she wouldn’t be able to love her baby. Croswell was the first person the young woman told of her suicidal thoughts. During her visits, Croswell provided information on paternity testing; connected her client with a community agency that assessed and treated her mental health issues; and perhaps most importantly, the specially trained nurse was a supportive and non-judgmental listener and mentor.

Then shortly after the birth, Jennifer called Croswell and asked her to bring information on sun and swimming safety to her next visit. This wasn’t an unusual request, but in Jennifer’s case, Croswell saw it as symbolic. "The focus of our visits has turned around so much. She’s really thriving. The baby is doing well. She’s happy as a mom [she decided not to pursue paternity testing]. And I think it’s because we got her the support she needed throughout her pregnancy."

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