The purpose of this study was to explore nurses' experiences of encountering parents who are hesitant about or refrain from vaccinating their child. A qualitative approach was chosen and data collected through individual, semi-structured interviews with 12 nurses. The text was analyzed using thematic analysis. Three themes emerged from the interviews: giving room and time for acknowledging parents' insecurity concerning vaccination, striving to approach the parents' position with tact, and a struggle between feelings of failure and respect for the parents' view. The findings indicate that it was crucial to give time, be tactful when meeting parents, as well as to appear credible and up-to-date. The nurses wanted to be open and respect the parents' views on vaccination but found it difficult and frustrating to be unable to reach out with their message because their quest was to protect the child.
Keywords: Child health nurse; hesitation; parents; thematic analysis; vaccination.