Communicating with children in A & E: what skills does the nurse need?
It is well recognized in the UK that up to 30% of annual attendances to Accident & Emergency (A & E) departments will be from children aged 16 years and under. Whilst much of the available literature relating to the care of children in A & E focuses upon the need for specially trained nurses and environmental improvements, there is little evidence provided as to the skills required by the A & E nurse when caring for this group of patients. This paper investigates some of the communication skills that may be needed by A & E nurses if they are to communicate effectively with pre-school children. The discussion focuses upon how these skills may be developed and the nature of the underpinning knowledge and experience required by the nurse in this context.
Wood
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Department of Nursing & Midwifery, Keele University, City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent, UK.
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D016529:Emergency Nursing; D006801:Humans; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010371:Pediatric Nursing