The experiences of pediatric nurses caring for children in a persistent vegetative state.

OBJECTIVE The number of children surviving in a persistent vegetative state is increasing with advances in medical technology. Caring for a neurologically devastated child presents unique challenges not previously described. Our objective was to gain an understanding of the pediatric nurse's experience of caring for children in a persistent vegetative state. DESIGN Qualitative phenomenologic study using in-depth interviews. SETTING Monitored step-down care unit of an academic children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS Eight registered nurses employed at a step-down care unit. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Nurses in this study described caring for children in a persistent vegetative state as a dynamic process with negative and positive aspects. Six themes emerged from this study: focusing on the parents, delivering sensorially offensive physical care, enduring conflicting emotions, suffering moral distress, finding relief and comfort, and gaining perspective. CONCLUSIONS Our qualitative study suggests that caring for a child in a persistent vegetative state is difficult. Pediatric nurses described the experience as emotionally stressful and ethically challenging. To cope with the demands of caring for the child in a persistent vegetative state, the nurses in this study modified the traditional concept of the pediatric nurse-patient relationship.