LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SELECTED NURSES IN CARING FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH TERMINAL STAGE CANCER

Jose Emmanuel  I. Francia,; Neil Al-john  M. Francisco,; Aeron  R. Galang,; Ronnel  H. Garcia,; Jerome  B. Gaspay,; Ma. Ruth Elizabeth  V. Gonzales,

LIVED EXPERIENCES OF SELECTED NURSES IN CARING FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH TERMINAL STAGE CANCER

Discipline: Nursing

Abstract:

The study aimed to determine the live experiences of selected nurses in caring for pediatric patients with terminal stage cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. It also aimed to determine the demographic profile of these nurses in terms of age, gender, and years of experience; their emotions in caring for these patients; necessary skills and attitudes in caring them; and their perceived thoughts in the prognosis of the disease.

Qualitative phenomenological method was used to answer the given problems and purposive and snowball sampling methods were utilized in choosing the participants of the study. Likewise, a semi-structured interview was used to gather relevant data. Frequency distribution was used to analyze the demographic profile of the respondents and hermeneutic phenomenology of Max Van Manen for analyzing emotions, skills and attitudes, and perceived thoughts of the respondents. Findings showed that female nurses were more attached to their patients than those male nurses and older nurses had broader experience in handling pediatric patients than those younger ones. In terms of emotions, disappointments and sadness were identified as the most common feelings felt by the nurses. In terms of skills and attitudes, establishing rapport, aseptic technique, and accuracy were the needed skills while patience and compassion were the needed attitudes for nurses caring this group of patients. Finally, in terms of perceived thoughts on the prognosis of the disease, participants were hoping their patients would still survive and live longer.

The study recommended that those nurses who are handling clients with the said disease should use relaxation technique to these patients especially during chemotherapy sessions to somehow lessen the pains felt by their patients.