Journal of pediatric nursing
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This study examined (1) the influence of continuing education and length of pediatric nursing experience on infant pain assessments, (2) length of pediatric nursing experience on the cues used in making these assessments, and (3) the relationships between cues and assessed levels of pain. The convenience sample consisted of 20 nurses with less than 1 year of pediatric nursing experience, 20 nurses with more than 1 year of pediatric nursing experience but less than 5 years, and 24 nurses with more than 5 years pediatric nursing experience. All had at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. ⋯ Results fit with, and provide some quantitative illustration for, the model of clinical nursing development as described by Benner and coworkers. More experienced nurse participants agreed more with the expert panel on levels of assessed pain than the other nurse participants. Similarities and differences in the relationship between key cues and level of assessed pain among nurse participants with differing lengths of pediatric nursing experience are presented and discussed.
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The purpose of this study was to identify and compare parental perceptions of their stress and coping experiences with children in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) and the neonatal intensive care units (NICU). The sample consisted of 31 NICU and 20 PICU parents. ⋯ Parents with children in the PICU perceived problems-focused coping more helpful than parents with children in the NICU; parents of children in NICU found emotion-focused coping more helpful than parents of children in PICU. Parents in both units considered problem-focused coping more helpful than appraisal- or emotion-focused coping.
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The components of the assessment process are identified and compared from an ethnography of the methods used by 65 pediatric nurses to assess the level of pain in a sample of infants younger than 1 year of age. Nine different modes of thought, feeling, and action were referenced in reaching judgments about pain levels. ⋯ Nurses demonstrated a wider "repertoire" of knowledge about how to assess pain than they customarily used: the selection of particular repertoire items varied by nurses' initial estimates, experience level, and personal assessment style. Findings support the proposition that an understanding of the infant pain assessment process must include nurses' selection and customary use of knowledge and data available to them, as well as the intrinsic nature of that information.
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Resilience is relevant to nurses because of its implications for health. Research on the resilience of children and adolescents has proliferated over the past five years. ⋯ Furthermore, few intervention studies have been conducted. This article describes resilience and factors that influence resilience of children, examines the relationship between resilience and health, identifies interventions that foster children's resilience and health, reviews research focusing on children's resilience, and suggests the relevance of resilience to nursing of children.
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Constructive, therapeutic play is an essential part of the care of children with long-term hospitalizations. The O'Connor theoretical framework supports the importance of play in ensuring the emotional, developmental, and physical health of children. ⋯ This article describes a successful play therapy program in a Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, using a play cabinet designed to provide readily available, sterilized toys that are appropriate for each of four age groups. Two cases are presented that show the efficacy of the use of the play cabinet in play therapy programs.