The psychological burden experienced by paediatric nurses during children’s hospital care

Abstract

Working with children requires a great deal of attention and patience from a nurse, and it is also vital to emphasise the enormous amount of responsibility that accompanies this profession. Events related to children involve more stress, possibly causing an increased level of psychological burden for nurses, which, if unprocessed, may lead to symptoms of secondary traumatisation that may result in burnout. Within the framework of this research, we investigated the psychological demands on nurses working in paediatrics. Our goal was to learn the opinions and activities of paediatric nurses in connection with the psychological preparation and support of children and their parents, a subject previously not analysed in Hungary. In the light of the results of the research, our further goal is to prove the need to adapt the system of care that has become internationally pervasive with proven positive effects (Child life specialist). A descriptive and multivariate analysis was carried out relying on the results of online quantitative questionnaires filled in by members of the Chamber of Hungarian Healthcare Professionals (Paediatric Department). The responses of the 361 paediatric nurses who filled in our questionnaire show that children’s psychological preparation was mainly carried out by nurses. However, the increased workload prohibited them from meeting children’s and parents’ emotional needs. When caring for patients, nurses often found themselves in situations where they were not able to react to a child’s psychological needs. They find their work so mentally demanding that it has an influence on their private life as well. Children’s emotional state greatly influences nurses, which is why the presence of a specialist who is able to prepare children for interventions and provide emotional support to them and their families is needed in hospital care. Besides all these factors, providing psychological support is also necessary when carrying out nursing roles.