2024 Volume 33 Pages 62-69
This study evaluated nurses’ perceived difficulties when providing end-of-life care for children with cancer and their families by conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 nurses. Through qualitative analysis, the following 9 categories, with 18 subcategories, were extracted: interacting with the child and family, respecting the child’s statements, coordinating the relationship between children and their families, working together as a team, knowing the progress, current situation, and future outlook, coping with the nurse’s feelings, approaching the child to alleviate distress, continuing to support the family after mourning the loss of the child, and responding to other children and families in the ward. Our findings highlight the need for educating young nurses to help reduce the difficulty caused by their lack of knowledge and experience and help them coordinate with the children, respect their wishes, discuss with the team conflicts that arise during the process, carefully observe the child who has sensed the death of a friend, and intervene with other professionals.
