Objective: To identify available evidence about the self-reported experience of hospitalized children.
Methods: An integrative review was carried out, and the survey occurred between September and November 2017, in the electronic sources DLTD-USP, CAPES, IBICT, MEDLINE, LILACS and BDENF.
Results: Ten studies were found, prevailing samples with descriptive design and approach in qualitative and mixed methods research. The literature evidenced the experience of hospitalized children through the report of parents and health professionals; few were self-reported by the child itself. Five themes were identified: Understanding the time of hospital admission, relevance of care received, feeling of pain, importance of the patient companion, information received about hospitalization.
Conclusion: It was found that experiences in childhood are able to have repercussions throughout life, and it is relevant that nursing is attentive to their clients' perception in order to have more satisfaction and the negative impact is diminished.