Katja Janhunen1, Päivi Kankkunen2, Tarja Kvist3. 1. University of Eastern Finland, Department of Nursing Science, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: Katjajan@student.uef.fi. 2. University of Eastern Finland, Department of Nursing Science, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: paivi.kankkunen@uef.fi. 3. University of Eastern Finland, Department of Nursing Science, Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: tarja.kvist@uef.fi.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the quality of care for children in emergency departments (ED) as perceived by the nursing staff, and to compare the quality of care for children in a pediatric ED and in a general ED and to identify care quality factors that predict nursing staff's satisfaction with pediatric care in an ED. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was performed using the 41-item Children Revised Humane Caring Scale (CRHCS) to collect data (n=147) from acute hospitals' pediatric EDs and general EDs in November 2015. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Nurses evaluated the quality of professional practice to be high. Children were treated in a respectful and friendly fashion, and received help when needed. The nurses perceived a lack of human resources in the studied EDs. Nurses in pediatric EDs gave more positive evaluations of the quality of care for children than nurses in general EDs. Positive assessments of professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration and human resources by nursing staff predicted higher satisfaction with the quality of ED care for children. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of children's care seemed to be higher in the pediatric ED than in the general ED. Key predictors of quality in children's care are professional practices of nursing staff, interdisciplinary collaboration and adequate human resources. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In EDs, children should be treated by nursing staff and facilities designated for them. Pediatric nursing and teamwork skills should be maintained in the training of nurses.
PURPOSE: To describe the quality of care for children in emergency departments (ED) as perceived by the nursing staff, and to compare the quality of care for children in a pediatric ED and in a general ED and to identify care quality factors that predict nursing staff's satisfaction with pediatric care in an ED. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was performed using the 41-item Children Revised Humane Caring Scale (CRHCS) to collect data (n=147) from acute hospitals' pediatric EDs and general EDs in November 2015. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Nurses evaluated the quality of professional practice to be high. Children were treated in a respectful and friendly fashion, and received help when needed. The nurses perceived a lack of human resources in the studied EDs. Nurses in pediatric EDs gave more positive evaluations of the quality of care for children than nurses in general EDs. Positive assessments of professional practice, interdisciplinary collaboration and human resources by nursing staff predicted higher satisfaction with the quality of ED care for children. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of children's care seemed to be higher in the pediatric ED than in the general ED. Key predictors of quality in children's care are professional practices of nursing staff, interdisciplinary collaboration and adequate human resources. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In EDs, children should be treated by nursing staff and facilities designated for them. Pediatric nursing and teamwork skills should be maintained in the training of nurses.