COMPLEXITY OF PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OF CHILDNURSING

Legius M.J.M

Fontys School of Nursing, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

 

Objective: Clarify which elements define the complexity of professional activities of child nursing. Describing and understanding professional practice in child nursing.

Methods: In phase one nine child nurses were interviewed about the elements they assume to be identifying the complexity of professional activities of child nursing. In phase two the results of phase one are used to design a list of factors who identify the complexity of professional activities of child nursing; the first round of the Delphi questionnaire. A panel of 17 qualified persons has given their feedback on both the first and second round of the Delphi questionnaire. The results of round one are processed in round two.

Results: This study has resulted in a unique list of 65 factors that are identifying the complexity of professional activities of child nursing. These factors are classified in three categories: nursing situation, expertise of the child nurse and organization. The category nursing situation is the largest one and has 30 factors, split in the categories child, parents and family circumstances. The results show that the ten most identifying factors are factors within the nursing situation.

Conclusion: Decision-making and carrying out interventions are the two factors that generate the elements of complexity of professional activities of child nursing. These two factors can be discriminated in the concept of professional activities but are inseparable when determining elements of complexity.

 
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