The perception of nurses toward the thoughts and feelings of parents who are obtaining hospital services for their children

Abstract

 This study describes the perceptions that nurses have regarding the thoughts and feelings expressed by parents who are obtaining hospital services for their children. Four focus group interviews were conducted with six nurses who had more than four years of hospital experience and who were currently working with children. Based on the interviews, three categories emerged: (1) Nurses try to listen to parents’ thoughts and feelings, but parents cannot always express themselves sufficiently although it might be better for them to share their concerns; (2) Nurses view the parents’ concerns as being important when determining the services and care needed by the child, while parents judge the nurses professional abilities; and (3) The nurses had their own emotional responses to the parents’ thoughts and feelings. The findings indicate that owing to the parents’ concerns, nurses felt strong pressure when determining the services and care to be given to the child. Thus, nurses should communicate with one another when they feel overwhelmed by the parents’ shared concerns to help them determine whether such concerns required further attention and credence. Further, nurses should recognize the parents’ need for empathic listening and sympathy from nurses when they share their thoughts and feelings. Nurse should also consider why parents might have these thoughts and feelings the need to express them.