Purpose/Objectives: To describe the meaning of being cared for and comforted by pediatric oncology nurses among a sample of childhood cancer survivors.
Research Approach: A hermeneutic analysis was conducted to describe the meaning of the phenomenon.
Setting: An oncology treatment center in the northeastern United States.
Participants: 11 childhood cancer survivors.
Methodologic Approach: Four childhood cancer survivors participated in a focus group, and seven were interviewed one-on-one via telephone interviews. The focus groups and the one-on-one interviews were tape-recorded, and the audio recordings were then transcribed into an electronic text file.
Main Research Variables: Comfort and caring behavior.
Findings: All participants agreed that simple acts of caring by nurses were meaningful to them and provided comfort. The five themes generated from the data analysis were (a) You Just Can't Pretend to Care, (b) Try to Take the Hospital Experiences Out of the Hospital, (c) I'm Not Just Another Kid With Cancer—There Is a Lot More About Me That You Should Get to Know, (d) Caring for Me Also Includes Caring for My Family, and (e) Nurses Make Treatment Experiences More Bearable Through Their Small Acts of Caring.
Conclusions: Pediatric patients with cancer find physical and emotional comfort through nurses' acts of caring.
Interpretation: The findings highlight the significance of caring acts by pediatric oncology nurses that provide comfort for children and adolescents with cancer.
References
Bottoroff, J. (1991). The lived experience of being comforted by a nurse. Phenomenology and Pedagogy, 9, 237-252.
Cantrell, M.A. (2007). The art of pediatric oncology nursing practice. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 24(3), 132-138.
Decker, C., Phillips, C.R., & Haase, J.E. (2004). Information needs of adolescents with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 21(6), 327-334.
Diekelmann, N.L., Allen, D., & Tanner, C. (1989). The National League for Nursing criteria for appraisal of baccalaureate programs: A critical hermeneutic analysis. New York: Author.
Doona, M.E., Chase, S.K., & Haggerty, L.A. (1999). Nursing presence: As real as a Milky Way bar. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 28(4), 54-70.
Dunsmore, J., & Quine, S. (1995). Information, support, and decisionmaking needs and preferences of adolescents with cancer: Implications for health professionals. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 13(4), 39-56.
Fochtman, D. (2006). The concept of suffering in children and adolescents with cancer. Journal of Pediatric of Oncology Nursing, 23(2), 92-102.
Godkin, J., Godkin, L., & Austin, P. (2002). Nursing presence, patient satisfaction, and the bottom line. Journal of Hospital Marketing and Public Relations, 14(1), 15-33.
Haase, J.E., & Phillips, C.R. (2004). The adolescent/young adult experience. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 21(3), 145-149.
Hedstrom, M., Skolin, I., & von Essen, L. (2004). Distressing and positive experiences and important aspects of care for adolescents treated for cancer. Adolescent and nurse perceptions. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8(1), 6-17.
Hinds, P.S. (2000). Fostering coping by adolescents with cancer. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 16(4), 317-327.
Hinds, P.S., & Martin, J. (1988). Hopefulness and the self-sustaining process in adolescents with cancer. Nursing Research, 37(6), 336-340.
Hockenberry-Eaton, M., & Minick, P. (1994). Living with cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 21(6), 1025-1031.
Kolcaba, K., & DiMarco, M.A. (2005). Comfort theory and its application to pediatric nursing. Pediatric Nursing, 31(3), 187-194.
Last, B.F., & van Veldhuizen, A.M. (1996). Information about diagnosis and prognosis related to anxiety and depression in children with cancer aged 8-16 years. European Journal of Cancer, 32A(2), 290-294.
Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T. (2008). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Ritchie, M.A. (2001). Psychosocial nursing care for adolescents with cancer. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing, 24(3), 165-175.
Van Dongen-Melman, J.E.W.M., Pruyn, J.F.A., Van Zanen, G.E., & Sanders-Woudstra, J.A.R. (1986). Coping with childhood cancer. A conceptual view. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 4(1 & 2), 147-161.
Weekes, D.P., Kagan, S.H., James, K., & Seboni, N. (1993). The phenomenon of hand holding as a coping strategy in adolescents experiencing treatment-related pain. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 10(1), 19-25.
