[Developmental care principle-based concept analysis].

Introduction: Developmental care is a combination of interventions that focused on the adaptation of the neonatal environment to support the development of preterm infants.

Background: Although the concept of developmental care emerges from psychology, its application is integrated into the nursing care of premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal unit.

Objectives: Analysis of developmental care concept has been carried out in order to establish the theoretical foundations and propose a conceptualization according to a nursing perspective.

Method: This article presents the results of the principle based analysis of the developmental care concept.

Results: A conceptualization of developmental care in a nursing perspective is suggested according to the results of the principles analysis of developmental care.

Discussion: The identification of the theoretical basis of the concept of developmental care is the first step towards the theoretical integration of this concept that emerge from psychology in the nursing discipline.

Conclusion: The results of this concept analysis and the proposed conceptualization contribute to the development of nursing knowledge. They can guide the practice of nurses working in the neonatal unit and who provide daily care for premature infant. They can also guide teaching and research on developmental care in nursing.