Being a Nurse in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Pediatric Intensive Care Units are the units that provide a 24-hour uninterrupted service for the care and treatment of children at the age of 1 month to 18 years. Specialized, educated and experienced Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurses have a significant role in maintaining lives of the children and achievement of the best results in their treatment. It has been reported that Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurses constitute one of the most risky working groups due to a stressful working environment as well as their intense working rhythm. Aim: This study was performed to determine working conditions, professional motivation, feelings and thoughts of nurses working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at a university hospital in Turkey. Method: The study was a descriptive study using qualitative methods. A total of six nurses working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit constituted the study group. Data were obtained using a demographic information form and a semi-structured qualitative interview form. Results: Two main themes emerged at the end of the study. These themes were classified as feelings and thoughts of the nurses and their working conditions. Conclusion: In the study, nurses stated that they were happy to work in intensive care since they loved children so much, and they experienced stress since their treatments were more complex and their clinical course changed very quickly. Besides, it was determined that weekly working hours were longer and working conditions were very intense due to insufficient number of nurses and their motivation was low due to the adverse physical conditions