2022 Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 142-151
Objective: This study investigated the preparations made by mothers of children requiring medical care for enrolling them in local elementary schools and additionally identified the challenges they faced and examined the ways in which public health nurses can support these children to attend school.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three mothers of first- to third-grade children requiring medical care, and qualitative descriptive analysis was conducted on the school preparations made by the mothers in order for their children to attend elementary school.
Results: The mothers 《repeatedly went through trial and error to gain the understanding of educators》, 《clearly defined their non-negotiable points and wishes》, and 《took action to realise their wishes》. However, they felt that 《the mechanism for children requiring medical care to attend school was unclear》.
Discussion: Although the mothers “felt that the mechanism for school attendance was unclear,” they clarified their non-negotiable points and wishes and acted on their own. Public health nurses need to accept the feelings of mothers, draw out their ability to take action, and build a community care system for children requiring medical care that involves educational institutions.
