Abstract

RODRIGUES DE ALENCAR, Aline et al. Emotion and care in the assistance to children with cancer: perceptions of nursing staff. Rev Cubana Enfermer [online]. 2014, vol.30, n.2. ISSN 0864-0319.

Pediatric cancer stimulates deep emotions in professional nursing, and this is faced with a continuous anxiety caused by extenuating factors ranging from issues of physical overload of the intense psychological demands.This research emerges from the need to deepen knowledge about the care of nursing for children with cancer. The study aimed to identify the emotional aspects associated to the care of children with cancer, through qualitative research, and this way we sought to expose the perceptions and potential challenges experienced by nursing staff in the context of their professional practice. Data collection was accomplished through semi-structured interviews with 14 professionals of the nursing staff. Was selected as the site for data collection: Department of Outpatient Chemotherapy (Day Hospital Peter Pan), and Sector Internment (Block C) of the pediatric Hospital Albert Sabin, located in the town of Fortaleza, Ceará. The data were submitted to content analysis. Based on the data analysis, it was possible to identify two thematic categories that unveiled the emotions and feelings that nursing staff expresses in the action of caring for a child with cancer, they are "care: feelings and meanings" and "meaning of experience death: dealing with emotions”. It was concluded that, spite of emotional overload to which they are exposed, respondents, maintains its commitment in providing assistance to children, however highlights the need for emotional support to to assist them, because there is a tendency for emotional exhaustion, discouragement and failure. This reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary and continuous training of these nurses and nursing technicians and promotion and health prevention in the workplace.

Keywords : oncologic nursing; nursing care; child; hospitalized.

        · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )