Student Nurses’ Experiences of Individually Nursing Care and Holistic Care in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Students in Third Year of Baccalaureate Nursing Program

Abstract

Objectives: To describe and to explain nurses’ experiences of individual nursing and holistic care in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the third-year nurse students of baccalaureate nursing program.

Methods: This study is a phenomenological study. The informants were 18 third-year nurse students that practiced in PICU. Data were collected from an experience-recorded form and focus group interview from October to December 2013. Data were subsequently analyzed using phenomenological technique.

Results: Nurse students reflected their clinical experiences in PICU as 6 themes: 1) Positive attitude for gladness, proudness, happiness, trust and value, and negative attitude for fear and stress, 2) Parents are bound, anxious and attached to their children, children’s perception about the environments and cry for parents, 3) Individual nursing and holistic care as hygiene, suction, dressing, medications, nutrition feeding, talking, playing and parents care as interaction, help and provide information about their children as clinical, treatment, laboratory and the special result, equipment and level on treatment, 4) Inconfidence and inability to help parents and answer their questions, 5) Solving technique by asking for help from clinical instructors, nursing preceptors and inquiry, and 6) Parent appreciation for students’ help as gladness, happiness, trust, thank, smile and relatives friendliness.

Conclusion: The results of this study help clinical instructors and nursing preceptors to thoroughly understand nurse students’ experience on nursing care in PICU. Developing clinical teaching program related to individual nursing and holistic care in PICU in order to prepare nurse students’ confidence, critical care knowledge, nursing skills before attending PICU are indispensible.