The approaches of nurses who work at child clinics to the 3-6 aged and hospitalized children according to their age- stage characteristics

Hospitalization in childhood is an important stress factor for children. The nurses who work child clinics should notice emotional, cognitive and social needs of children in order to facilitate their adaptation to the hospital. It is important that these needs according to age stages should be considered and used in care with practices. This study was conducted to evaluate the approaches of child-clinic nurses to the children who 3-6 aged group and hospitalization according to their age-stage characteristics, as descriptive. The study was conducted with 268 nurses who work child clinics at child hospitals in Ankara city center. Data was collected with descriptive survey questionnaire developed by the researcher and 'The scale of practicing role and functions of pediatric nurses'. For analysis; percentage, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Cronbach Alfa, Bonferroni and Spearman Rho Correlation Tests were used. As a result; it is determined that of the nurses; 84% were women, 50.7% were single, 38.8% had children and 57.8% graduated from license. Also the mean of their working time was 31.0±7.3 years, working time in this occupation was 6.0 (min=0.1; max=39.0) years and working time at child clinics was 3.0 (min=0.0; max=36.0) years. It is found that the nurses recognized age development characteristics of 3-6 aged group, hospitalized children and knew their responses related to disease and hospitalization. Their score from 'the scale of practicing role and functions of pediatric nurses' was high. There was a significant difference between having child and their roles as communicator, rehabilitator, consultant, management and make coordination (p<0.05). According to these data; it is suggested that periodic educations should be given to the pediatric nurses about child development, their sensitivity should be increased and different studies about this subject should be conducted. Keywords: Hospitalized child, age stage, nursing, role and function