Paediatric palliative nurse’s experiences of working with child mortality: An IPA study investigating the possibility for experiencing secondary traumatic stress

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this research was to qualitatively explore through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), paediatric nurse’s experiences of working with terminally ill children and the possibility for them to experience secondary traumatic stress. Indirect exposure to potentially traumatic situations is common amongst nurses with secondary traumatic stress being one of the most prevalent mental health conditions within nurses (Lee, Daffern, Ogloff & Martin, 2015). Studies have shown that nurses describe their roles as “medics who make people better” (Joudrey & Gough, 2001, p.1155). Within a paediatric hospital setting, it is hoped and usually assumed that the majority of the children within the wards will go home healthier than when first admitted into hospital. However, if a child takes a turn for the worse and passes away in hospital, it is anticipated that this could affect the nurses who have cared for that child, as their perception of their role as those who ‘make people better’ could be challenged. This viewpoint is different to nurses working in a palliative care setting where they know that the child they are caring for will pass away due to their terminal illness. Whilst they may still be affected by the loss of the child, it is anticipated unlike paediatric nurses where it could come as a shock. Participants for this study were recruited from two hospitals in the North West of England who had experience of working with terminally ill children. Five paediatric nurses were asked to take part in an hour-long semi-structured interview where questions about their experiences as a nurse were examined. The results of this research concluded that elements of secondary traumatic stress were prevalent in some of nurses interviewed. This suggestion is examined more thoroughly in the discussion.