Challenges and facilitators in child-friendly healthcare from the perspective of pediatric emergency nurses: A qualitative study.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine pediatric emergency nurses' experiences and opinions regarding child-friendly care within Watson's Human Care Model framework.

Design And Methods: This study is qualitative research conducted with nurses in the pediatric emergency unit of a university hospital between 06 March and 06 April 2024. This study used a purposive sampling method and conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 nurses. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Inductive thematic analysis method was used. The study was written based on the COREQ checklist.

Findings: This study determined two themes, five sub-themes, and 13 categories. The theme "challenges to child-friendly healthcare implementation" included a lack of physical space and agitated and violent families. It has been reported that physical space, especially where privacy is not protected, makes child-friendly care complex, and the violent reactions of families are significant obstacles. The second theme, "facilitators for an ideal child-friendly pediatric emergency unit," included the design of the pediatric emergency unit/improving physical environment, availability of appropriate equipment, and effective communication strategies. This theme emphasizes the importance of colorfully designing the physical space and equipment in a way that does not scare children.

Conclusion: It has been determined that the healing environment and care processes are essential for child-friendly care. During the care processes, communication according to the age of the children and communication with agitated families was emphasized as an essential component of care.

Practice Implications: The study results will guide hospital management, healthcare professionals working in the field, and future studies on designing the child-friendly emergency unit that children deserve.