Role of Pediatric Nurses Regarding Children’s Needs Undergoing Hemodialysis Therapy

Abstract

Background: Pediatric nurse plays an important role in management needs of \nchildren with chronic renal failure (CRF) and undergoing hemodialysis therapy. Aim: It was \nto assess role of pediatric nurses regarding children s needs undergoing hemodialysis therapy. \nResearch design: A descriptive design was utilized for this study. Settings: This study was \nconducted at Pediatric Hemodialysis Unit in Children’s Hospital affiliated to Ain Shams \nUniversity Hospitals and El-Zahra University Hospital. Subject: A purposive sample was \nincluding 50 pediatric nurses caring for children undergoing hemodialysis therapy (25 nurses \nand 25 children from children s Hospital and 25nurses and 25 children from El-Zahra \nHospital). Tools: A questionnaire sheet constituted 3 parts to assess: Demographic \ncharacteristics, nurses’ knowledge regarding renal failure and hemodialysis therapy, and \nQuality of life scale, this tool is adapted from (Varni & Limbers, 2011) to determine the \nneeds of children undergoing hemodialysis therapy. Results: There were highly statistically \nsignificant differences between the total knowledge of the studied nurses and also their total \nrole regarding needs of children undergoing hemodialysis therapy about renal failure and \nhemodialysis therapy and their educational level, years of experience and attending training \ncourses at (p < 0.01). In addition, there was positive correlation between total nurses’ \nknowledge about renal failure and hemodialysis and their total role regarding the needs of \nchildren undergoing hemodialysis therapy. Conclusion: The current study concluded that, \nthe role of pediatric nurse regarding needs of children undergoing hemodialysis therapy \nnamely physical, social and emotional needs are affected by their educational level, years of \nexperience and attendance of training courses. Recommendations: Periodic assessment of \nknowledge, and practice and continuous course training for all nurses who are providing care \nfor children undergoing hemodialysis therapy, based on children’s actual needs assessment.