Experiences of nurses caring for children with severe physical and mental disabilities resulting from abuse

Abstract

 This study clarified nurses’ experiences in caring for children with severe mental and physical disabilities resulting from abuse. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted involving semi-structured interviews with seven nurses who had experience in caring for these children. Four categories of caregiving styles were identified: “getting involved while assessing the child’s feelings”, “thinking about how to interact with people”, “struggling to maintain the child’s mental and physical well-being”, and “preserving the relationship between the visiting parent and child”. Nurses’ experiences were characterized by their efforts to make the child feel safe and being attentive so that the child would not feel isolated. In nursing practice, it is suggested that children should be supported step-by-step to minimize their physical pain and interact with people, thus creating an environment and relationships that ensure their quality of life.