Nurses' experiences of caring for children in pain

• Published in: Child : care, health & development Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 464 - 470
• Main Authors: Ljusegren, G., Johansson, I., Gimbler Berglund, I., Enskär, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel; Caring; Child; children; Children & youth; Clinical Competence; experiences; Humans; Internal-External Control; Interviews; Middle Aged; nurse; Nurse-Patient Relations; Nurses; Nurses - psychology; Nursing care; Pain; Pain - nursing; Pain management; Pain Management - methods; Pain Management - nursing; Pain Management - standards; Pain Measurement - methods; Pain Measurement - standards; Pediatric Nursing - organization & administration; Pediatric Nursing - standards; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Professional development; reflection; Semi Structured Interviews; Sweden; Sweden
• ISSN: 0305-1862; 1365-2214; 1365-2214
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01262.x

Aim  To describe nurses' experiences when caring for children in pain. Background  Earlier studies have shown that nurses are key actors in pain management and that there is a need to focus on the nurses' own experiences of caring for children in pain. Method  Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 21 nurses at one paediatric clinic. The data were analysed by means of content analysis. Results  The interviews suggested that when a child's pain followed an expected pattern and they complied with treatment, the nurses trusted their knowledge and felt comfortable. On the other hand, in unpredictable situations the nurses felt fearful, powerless, abandoned and distrustful. Conclusion  The nurses were comfortable in predictable situations, but if a situation was unpredictable, they felt they had lost control over it. Implications for pain management  To reduce feelings of abandonment, work shifts should be organized so that more experienced nurses can work side by side with those who are less experienced. Pain assessment tools and guidelines for pain management should be introduced into the daily work, and systematic reflection should be used for nurses' professional development.