Publication
Coping strategies of nurses caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions: An integrative review
Hurley F, Balanuta S, Flanagan P · Journal of pediatric nursing · 2025
Introduction: Nurses care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across a variety of settings, often managing complex needs and unpredictable illness trajectories. As key providers of physical and emotional support to the child and family, they face significant emotional challenges. Therefore, it is essential to explore how nurses cope with these demands. The review aimed to synthesise and critically appraise the evidence on coping strategies used by nurses caring for these children. Methods: Studies exploring coping strategies used by nurses caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions (2015-2025) were included. A systematic search was conducted across CINAHL Ultimate, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE Elsevier, PsycINFO EBSCO, and Scopus, as well as review repositories including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Database of Abstracts of Review of Effects (DARE). Results: Twenty-two studies were included, with four themes emerging. The evolving sense of duty highlighted how paediatric nurses develop emotional resilience through repeated exposure to death and distress; Boundaries for survival reflected the strategies used to protect their emotional well-being; Strength in connection emphasised the importance of teamwork and support, and Faith as a foundation of care highlighted how spiritual beliefs help nurses in their roles. Conclusions: Nurses in the early stages of their careers are especially vulnerable to the emotional demands of caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. These findings highlight the need for ongoing education and support to sustain nurses' well-being and their capacity to provide compassionate, high-quality care.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.