Nurses' Perceptions of Parent and Nurse Roles in Caring for Hospitalized Children

Abstract

Twenty-five nurses were interviewed and asked to describe their perceptions of parent and nurse roles in caring for hospitalized children. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Six types of roles were identified: providing nonmedical care; providing technical and medical care; being a gatekeeper; being an advocate; providing psychosocial care; and providing general care. It seemed that often the nurses' need for control influenced the psychoemotional care they provided for parents.