Pediatric Nurses’ Experiences With Professional Boundaries and Ethical Challenges: A Secondary Analysis

Abstract

Pediatric nursing is known to be challenging in relation to balancing care and relationships with children and families. There is a growing body of knowledge about the perspectives of the various aspects of care; nurses’ thoughts and perspectives, parents’ needs and desire for collaboration, and the continued care and support required are related. This article is a secondary analysis of data collected using the theoretical framework and methodology of Margaret Newman’s Health as Expanding Consciousness to understand how pediatric nurses develop knowledge. Interviews were conducted with eight pediatric nurses working in inpatient settings with children and families experiencing chronic, complex healthcare needs. The nurses, whose experience spanned between 3 and 30 years, related to stories of how their view of practice evolved over time and with experiences and the challenges to professional boundaries and ethical practice. Reflection on these experiences brought nurses to acknowledge sometimes crossing professional boundaries and struggling with ethical issues. Ultimately, reflections brought appreciation of lessons learned and evolution of the understanding of their role in the care of these children and families.