The initial experiences of junior nursing college students when communicating with children during pediatric clinical practicum: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Purpose: Nursing students feel stressed during pediatric clinical practicum due to limited communication encounters with hospitalized children. The purpose of this study was to describe junior nursing college students' experiences of communicating with children during pediatric clinical practicums.

Design and methods: A qualitative phenomenological research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 18 junior nursing college students who completed their pediatric clinical practicum. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method for data analysis.

Results: Three themes emerged from the data. (1) Difficulties in communicating during initial practicum: fear, rejection, self-doubt of communication abilities, and unfamiliarity with the application of communication techniques posed frustrations among nursing students. (2) Efforts to learn during practicum: self-empowerment, seeking a diverse support system, adjusting communication methods, and striving to establish good relationships allowed nursing students to adapt to the pediatric curriculum. (3) Effective communication at the later stages of practicum: mastering fundamental communication techniques and exercising pediatric therapeutic communication techniques allowed nursing students to feel accomplished.

Conclusions: Junior nursing college students initially encountered difficulties and frustration when communicating with children during their pediatric clinical practicum. This study serves as a guide for educators of pediatric nursing to design courses on communication with hospitalized children.

Practice implications: These findings could be used to develop foundation courses on communicating with children for first-time pediatric nursing practicum students; for example, formulating a course on therapeutic play for children that encompasses communication techniques, pediatric ward simulation, and introduction to therapeutic play.

Keywords: Communication; Nursing students; Pediatric clinical practicum; Phenomenology.