The Nurse as an Information Broker for Children with Terminal Illness: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Providing care for children with a terminal illness is a great challenge for nurses and might be very complex. Several roles can be performed while providing nursing care. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the roles of nurses in providing nursing care to children with terminal illness and explore the nurse's perspective on how they perform their role in caring for children with terminal illness. Methods: This research was conducted qualitatively with a content analysis approach. In-depth interviews with 8 nurses and focus group discussion with 7 nurses were the data collection methods used in this study. The sampling technique in this research is purposive sampling with inclusion criteria for nurses who were willing to participate in this research with a minimum education of diploma degree in nursing, and having at least 3 years of working experience in the pediatric ward. Results: Based on the nurses’ perspectives, their role as a communicator, counselor, collaborator, advocator, educator, and also as care provider make them an information broker for children with terminal illnesses and their families. Conclusion: In conclusion, while performing the roles, nurses must have good communication skills and knowledge related to the condition of the child as well as the ability to work with other healthcare teams with the purpose of providing holistic and comprehensive care for children with a terminal illness.