Stories seldom told: paediatric nurses' experiences of caring for hospitalized children with special needs and their families

Aims of the study. This study explored paediatric nurses' experiences of ca ring for children with special needs and their families in an acute care se tting. The aim of the study was to increase understanding of nurses' experi ences of caring for these children and their families. The study was design ed to reveal the caring practices embedded within these relationships throu gh exploring nurses' stories. Study design/methods. Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenology and feminist res earch principles were the approaches used to guide the study. Interviews we re held with experienced paediatric nurses and interpretation of interview transcripts using a Gadamerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach result ed in the identification of four themes. Findings. The four themes revealed were: Special Relationships; Multiple Di mensions of Who is Expert; Development of Trust Between Nurses and Families ; and Feelings of Frustration and Guilt. Conclusions. The study emphasized the context-specific nature of relationsh ips between nurses and children and their families. The nurses spoke about the difficulties they encountered in their practice and some of the ways th at they dealt with these problems. They discussed the things that they valu ed and those that made them feel guilty and frustrated. In doing so, they r evealed their warmth, strength, humanity and caring.