Current status of discharge support by nurses for families of children requiring medical care

Abstract

 The purpose of this study was to clarify the current status of discharge support by nurses for families of children requiring medical care. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 nurses involved in supporting discharge of children with medical care to home, and date was analyzed using the qualitative integrative method (KJ method). As a result, nurses considered the following as important in providing discharge support to families of children with medical care: [attending mothers: mental support by listening to their thoughts and feelings], [interprofessional approaches: providing information and support for families to gain self-confidence], [collaboration and cooperation: sharing information at conferences and collaborating], [connective opportunities: coordinating social resources by assessing family situations], and [community-based support: providing nursing interventions in daily life]. The results suggested the importance of promoting collaboration among nurses with different specialties, as well as collaboration and cooperation with educational, welfare, and other institutions.