Children in accident and emergency: seen but not heard?
This study examined the ideas and beliefs about the care of children in Accident and Emergency (A & E) among a group of experienced nurses. The study was set in a single A & E department, during a time when a new paediatric area was being developed. Semi-structured interviews were used to generate qualitative data. Seven main themes emerged from the data, namely: priority of children in A & E; the role of the paediatric trained nurse in A & E; fear of dealing with children; staffing issues; a separate area for children; isolation; and motivation of staff. Further discussion of these issues, in the context of existing literature, confirmed the inherent difficulties in dealing with children in a predominantly adult environment.
Partridge
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Accident and Emergency Department, Arrowe Park Hospital, Wirral Hospital NHS Trust, Merseyside.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005239:Fear; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009042:Motivation; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D014218:Triage