Exploring Nursing Presence as Experienced by Parents in Pediatric Oncology
Date
2022-08-19
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ORCID
0000-0002-4393-0254
Type
Thesis
Degree Level
Doctoral
Abstract
Background: Family caregivers of children living with cancer are overwhelmed with feelings of fear, anxiety, powerlessness, isolation, and distress when their children undergo cancer treatment. Using the family-centered care framework, nurses are placed in a unique position to support family caregivers undergoing this complex health experience through nursing presence. Nursing presence has been linked with improved physical and mental well-being for patients during hospitalization. Although there is existing nursing literature on the role of nursing presence in nurse-patient relationships and its benefit during hospitalization, there is a gap concerning the experience of nursing presence from the perspective of parents of children with cancer.
Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore nursing presence as experienced by parents of children with cancer during cancer treatment. The research question guiding this study was: How do parents of children receiving cancer treatment experience and describe nursing presence in a pediatric oncology unit?
Methods: This study was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological approach as described by Giorgi. The study included 10 participants of children with cancer aged birth to 14 years receiving treatment for cancer at a local hospital in mid-Western Canada. Purposive sampling was utilized in the selection of participants. One to two in-depth face-to-face and Zoom video call interviews with the participants were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. The five stages of analysis as described by Giorgi were used to analyze the data.
Findings: Based upon the participant’s descriptions, a structure of nursing presence in pediatric oncology emerged which included six constituent features: An attitude of presence, a source of encouragement, clinical experience and expertise, therapeutic communication, family involvement, and a sense of home away from home. Most notably, nursing presence was experienced by parents as characteristically by both the ‘being’ and ‘doing’ of presence, each of which were equally important.
Conclusion: The experiences described by parents provided rich and nuanced insights into what it meant for parents to experience nursing presence in a pediatric oncology setting. This study provides a structure for this meaning making and expounds on its constituent features, to describe what nursing presence resembled when experienced by parents of children with cancer.
Practice Implications: This study informs nursing practice, policy, and education in ways that are likely to enhance the care and subsequent well-being of pediatric oncology patients and their families.
Description
Keywords
Nursing presence, pediatric oncology, descriptive phenomenology, family-centered care, parents
Citation
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Department
Nursing
Program
Nursing