title: Caring for the Acutely, Severely Ill Child-A Multifaceted Situation with Paradoxical Elements: Swedish Healthcare Professionals' Experiences.
abstract: The aim of this study was to describe healthcare professionals' experience of caring for acutely, severely ill children in hospital in Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five focus group interviews were conducted with nurses, nurse assistants and physicians comprising a total of 20 participants. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An overall theme emerged that describes healthcare professionals' experiences as: "being in a multifaceted area of tension with paradoxical elements". The theme is based on three categories: proficiency of the individuals and the team is the fundamental base; interactions are crucial in an area of tension; and wellbeing of the individual is a balance of contradictory emotions. With maintained focus on the ill child, proficiency is the fundamental base, interactions are crucial, and moreover contradictory emotions are described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interplay based on proficiency may influence the assessments and treatments of acutely, severely ill children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognizing the multifaceted area of tension with paradoxical elements, practical teamwork exercises, a structured approach, and assessment tools could be a possible way to develop interprofessional team collaboration to improve the care of acutely, severely ill children in order to increase patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: ann-charlotte.almblad@kbh.uu.se.
authors.forename: Ann-Charlotte
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Almblad
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Målqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Gunn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Engvall
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061214:Patient Safety; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Children; Content analysis; Focus groups; Healthcare professionals; Interprofessional; Pediatric care