(The County of Fresno, 2008)
When children are hospitalized it can be a very traumatic situation for them. As a pediatric nurse, one must also be prepared to care for children physically and mentally (Beal, 1983). Issues can vary from having to communicate with a child who is oblivious to what is going on with their bodies, to dealing specifically with children who want to know why they are at the hospital. Remembering to treat them as a respected human-being and to continually uphold their dignity, must be in a nurse's mind at all times when working with children. The American Nurses Association's Code of Ethics for Nurses states that a nurse is responsible to promote, advocate for, and strive to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient while being committed to that patient, their family and community (Lough, Stacy, & Urden, 2006). When dealing with children, upholding the commitment to the child and his or her parents could cause more ethical issues with which the nurse must deal.
Unique Techniques in Pediatric Care (Tim Schoon, 2002)
Parents only want the best for their child, but at times their vision couldprevent the nurse from providing the best for the child. Children have a unique anatomy and physiology and psychological processes which pediatric nurses have expertise in assessing and managing while a child is hospitalized (Bakken, et al.). Without a parent’s trust in what the nurse is doing the child’s healing may be compromised. This could cause a clash between nurse and parent. Since pediatric health care is best when provided with the help of the child’s parents, it is imperative that the nurse include the parents in all that they can (Beal, 1983). To do this, pediatric nurses have to put in time, and energy, and have the interest to get to know the parents to provide the best care for the child (Beal, 1983).
Learning to accommodate the child, his or her parents, and one’s own medical duties is the challenge of a pediatric nurse. Understanding new technologies, treatments, and ways to make a child more comfortable in a hospital have helped to enable nurses to be more successful and lower the recurrence of ethical dilemmas and moral distress (Lough, Stacy, &Urden, 2006). Learning to deal with the social aspects of nursing with parents and the psychological issues with children, are other skills that will improve the hospital environment for a nurse. Nurses serve an important role in our communities and if nurses can learn how to do their job the best they can, then understanding how to keep their own minds and spirit healthy can promote better care for those out there in need.
Little Justine Duxbury with the new look nurses at Sydney Children's Hospital (Fiona-Lee Quimby, 2004)
For further information check out: http://www.pedsnurses.org/
References
Bakken, L., Bartolone, C., Carroll, K., Deatrick, J., Lewandowski,L., Linden, L. (1996). Statement on the Scope and Standards of Pediatric Clinical Nursing Practice. Washington, DC: American Nurses Association.
Beal, A. J. (1983). Issues and Advanced Practice in Pediatric Nursing. Reston, Virginia: Reston Publishing Company.
Burkhardt, A. M. & Nathaniel, K. A. (2008). Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing. Canada : Thomson Delmar Learning.
Urdan, D. L., Stacy, M. K., & Lough, E. M. (2006). Thelan’s Critical Care Nursing: Diagnosis and management. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby Elsevier
