A study of paediatric palliative care nursing.
Date
2011-03-30
Authors
Zuk, Shani Eve
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Abstract
Paediatric palliative care is an area that is still in its infancy, especially in South Africa, in terms
of both research and facilities that offer such specialised and specific care. This study sought to
examine both the scope of paediatric palliative care; as well as the possible impact that working
in paediatric palliative care may have on a group of nursing staff working in the context of
HIV/Aids in Gauteng, South Africa.
A self developed, semi-structured interview was used. The sample comprised of seven paediatric
palliative nurses working at The Soweto Hospice and Cotlands Baby Sanctuary. The results of
this study found that the scope of paediatric palliative care was not clearly defined. As a result,
nurses’ roles and responsibilities tended to merge with other members of the multidisciplinary
team. Furthermore, it was evident that no standardised or specialised training exists. As a result,
nurses tended to use their instinctual mothering or parenting experiences. This, along with
cultural beliefs, led nurses to employ a protecting role and as such, often resulted in restrictive
communication. Together, these issues seemed to result in the blurring of professional
boundaries. Nurses experienced both a positive and negative impact from their job. Nurses
attempted to cope with the impact through self-care, social support and institutional support. The
ways in which nurses dealt with this impact had implications for the individual nurse, their
patients and the institution. These results showed the need for more ongoing training and
emotional support for paediatric palliative nurses.