Nursing
Child Nursing
Child nursing is about caring for a child, whether they are healthy or ill. It encompasses the whole family and promotes family-centered care. It recognises children are unique individuals.
As parents, siblings, grandparents, extended family and friends are all involved in childcare, it is important to encourage the sharing of information between the family and nursing staff so the child receives individual care according to their needs. Communication skills are developed throughout the programme to promote good relationships with the child and their family and to lessen the impact of their illness and stay in hospital.
Good communication skills also help nurses develop an open and trusting relationship with children in their care. The nurse becomes the child’s advocate, their friend and sometimes their teacher. An important aspect of this role is that of play. Play in all settings gains the child’s trust and introduces familiarity.
Children’s nurses need to understand in great depth the healthy developing child before they can nurse the ill child. This pathway explores child development and teaches you how to assess, plan and implement the child’s care according to their developmental and physical needs. It is also important the children’s nurse teaches these skills to parents so they can nurse their child in hospital and at home.
Children’s nurses are seen as an integral part of a multidisciplinary
team. They are the ones who will be skilled, experienced and confident
enough to be able to empathise and fully understand the child at any age
or stage of development. These skills can help to reduce the stress that
trauma or illness might cause.