2018 Volume 27 Pages 131-139
The aim of this study is to identify the changes in nurses’perceptions of practice that have occurred as a result of a “practical nursing program focusing on the self-regulation displayed by preschool children undergoing venipuncture.”
This study included longitudinal data from nine nurses with over 3 years of experience in pediatric nursing. The nurses participated in one practical session prior to the start of the educational program, and two practical sessions after completing the program. In addition, at each timepoint, data was obtained from observation of the nurses’ practice involving children undergoing venipuncture and semi-structured interview after the practice. The data was qualitatively analyzed. The results found that, prior to the program, the nurses stated that their “understanding and judgment of children and care was based on a framework provided by themselves”, but following the program, the nurses shared that they now had a “realization of the significance of care for children through paying attention to the self-regulation of the children”, and spoke of “care oriented toward practice that was meaningful as a means to support children’s self-regulation”. However, the nurses’ experiences of a “fluctuation in the care practices to support children’s self-regulation” were observed across the entire period. These results highlight the importance of accepting nurses with fluctuating thoughts on wanting to support children’s self-regulation, as well as the importance of supporting nurses’ learning through practice.
