Look Beyond the walls : A qualitative interview study about nurses’ experiences of pediatric care in Ghana

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The child mortality is relatively high in a middle income country such as Ghana. Great achievements have been accomplished in order to reduce the under five mortality rate, likewise reach the millennium development goal to reduce child mortality. The nurses´ role to carry the capacity to face these challenges becomes a great part of their work. AIM: The aim of the study was to illuminate the experiences of nurses caring for ill children in Ghana and to gain a better understanding of the Ghanese perspective of important factors in pediatric care. METHOD: A qualitative method with semi structured interviews was performed. Five interviews were conducted with nurses at one pediatric ward in Ghana. The data was analysed using content analysis, Halldorsdottir´s theory was used as a raster throughout the paper. RESULTS: Two categories were identified and represent the results, Qualities and Strengths and Obstacles. The categories were found to be encompassed by nine subcategories, Feelings, Improvisation, Attitudes, Empowerment, Collaboration, Workload, Difficulties in the Nurse-Patient relationship, Contradictory experiences and Environmental challenges. CONCLUSION: The findings in this study suggest that the nursing care is largely affected by different factors in the nurses’ daily work. This can result in both a positive and negative impact on the nurse, patient and their relationship. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Describing how nurses experience work in pediatric nursing care can contribute with a better knowledge of important factors in global nursing.