Children living with long-term conditions: A meta-aggregation of parental experiences of partnership nursing.

Aim: To explore how parents of children with long-term conditions experience partnership in paediatric and neonatal nursing care and to identify existing partnership barriers and facilitators.

Background: Parent-nurse partnership is fundamental to paediatric and neonatal nursing. Partnership is characterised by five attributes: parental participation, negotiation, mutual trust and respect, shared roles and decision-making, and communication. Little is known about the parental experiences of partnership nursing specific to children living with a long-term condition.

Design: A qualitative meta-aggregation review following Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in six electronic databases. Studies were assessed according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Qualitative findings with illustrative quotes from included studies were extracted and grouped into categories which informed the synthesised findings. This review has been reported according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Findings: A total of 4,404 studies were screened, 162 full-text studies were assessed against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a total of six studies were included. The meta-aggregation developed three overarching synthesised findings which were as follows: (a) empowering parents to become involved, (b) effective communication to recognise mutual expertise and (c) collaborative nurse-family relationships.

Conclusion: Parents valued collaboration where both parents and nurses are recognised equally for their skills and expertise. A power struggle existed between parents and nurses when expertise was not recognised. Parents appreciated nurses who empowered them to develop new skills and knowledge in the care of their own child.

Relevance To Clinical Practice: Nurses need to recognise the skills and knowledge that parents have surrounding the care requirements of their own children. Collaboration and negotiation are key to successful partnership between nurses and parents. Nurses need to frequently reflect on how they are successfully partnering with both parents and children and ensure all parties in the nurse/parent/child triad feel supported and empowered.