The stressors of pediatric oncology nurses

Abstract

 Seven nurses took part in semi-structured interviews to clarify the stressors of pediatric oncology nurses. The results of the semi-structured interviews were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive research method. Nurses considered the following stressors related to children. Nurses saw their children get sick with cancer and become confused by changes in their lives. They saw their children suffer from the side effects of treatment and tried to prevent recurrence. The children could not voluntarily deal with the treatment. Nurses saw the following as stressors regarding families: The families were concerned about the child and their mental state deteriorated. The families had anxiety about life due to outpatient visits, the child’s relapse, and the unstable mental state of the family due to loss of energy. Nurses saw the following as stressors regarding care: the complex management of chemotherapy, lack of support to treat children, provide pain relief at the end of life, and the inability to meet the hopes of the children and their families at the end of life.