A Study Focusing on Actions during Pediatric Nursing Practice with Nursing Students Felt Showed Respect for the Hospitalized Children's Feeling and Rights

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify and classify actions during pediatric nursing practice which nursing students felt showed respect for the hospitalized children's feelings and rights. Questionnaires were used and interviews were conducted with 9 fourth year nursing students in a university nursing department. As a result, the following classification of actions was identified : 1) explaining to the children about the things that are being done for them at the moment or that are going to happen to them, and asking the children for their opinion on these things. 2) considering the children's feelings and the situation that the children are put in. 3) improving the quality of the children's daily life in hospital. Furthermore, the following points came out : 1) the most common descriptions were of situations where the children were receiving treatment or having medical tests. 2) some students realized they have to consider the children's physical condition as well as the children's feelings. 3) some students realized they have to ensure the children's safety and correctly administer treatment while at the same time consider the children's feelings. This may cause students a dilemma while giving children medical care the children do not want to receive. 4) the students observed the children's reaction in many situations but in the case of very young children, some students found it difficult to understand what the young children's reactions meant. Therefore, it may be necessary to help students to understand such reactions.