Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the status of collaboration in nursing care conducted by nurses to support children with medical care needs and their families as well as their awareness of collaboration in nursing practice. The subjects were 1,398 nurses in a prefecture to which self-administered questionnaire survey forms were sent by mail. Responses from 327 nurses were analyzed. Most nurses were able to collaborate with hospital nurses to discuss psychological, physical, and medical care provided for pediatric patients and their families. However, they sometimes encountered difficulty when addressing children with illness that they had no experience treating and providing the pediatric patients with advice on self-care unique to each patient and their behaviors for recovery. Nurses working in child care facilities and general educational institutions were able to collaborate with each other. Most nurses recognized the importance of collaboration in nursing practice. They also stated that it is necessary for them to be able to communicate with other nurses, patients, and their families without difficulty and frequently exchange information to further promote collaboration, secure sufficient numbers of personnel and time, and provide opportunities for meetings. Nurses who are involved in the lives of pediatric patients and their families and working in a variety of health care facilities and institutions should provide them with support while collaborating with each other across the borders of different fields, and this will promote the development of a society where children with medical care needs and their families can lead comfortable lives.
