Klinische Pädiatrie: Offener Zugang
Offener Zugang

Abstrakt

Experience of Pediatric Nurses in Nursing Dying Children: A Qualitative Study

Wei Na Bian1 , Jun Xiang Cheng2 , Yue Dong3 , Ying Xue1 , Qian Zhang1 , Qing Hua Zheng1 , Yue Song1 , HongWei Yang

Purpose: To explore the challenges and effective coping strategies of pediatric nurses in caring for dying children.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was adopted. Data were collected using semi-structured interview with 10 nurses from the pediatrics, pediatric emergency department and neonatology department.

Results: Three themes were generated: stressors, stress consequences, coping strategies. Ten sub-themes were generalized: negative stress; helpless; question rescue behavior; fear of communication; lack of workforce for night rescue; compassion fatigue; burnout; changes in life attitudes; self-regulation; leadership approval and no accountability.

Conclusion: Through qualitative research, the challenges and effective coping strategies faced by nurses in caring for dying children were found, which provides information for nurses' career development and related policy formulation in China.

Clinical relevance: While there are many articles in China on hospice care, there is little research on the nurses’ experience of caring for dying children. In foreign countries, many studies have mentioned the adverse consequences of caring for dying children, and even led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the domestic discussion of such problems is rare and there are no corresponding coping strategies. This study aims to explore the challenges and effective coping strategies of pediatric nurses in caring for dying children.