What are the special demands?
There are special communications challenges associated with children’s nursing, the most obvious of which is that a small child cannot say what hurts or articulate its fears and needs. You will need to be very intuitive and immensely reassuring. Non-verbal communication skills, and the ability to play sensitively with a child will be vital. Equally you will have to be confident at handling the distress of parents. It’s likely that you’ll need to teach the child’s parents/carers what may need to be done to carry on with treatment at home – such support is invaluable. Children’s nursing is tougher and broader than some imagine it to be, but there is no greater satisfaction in nursing than helping a critically ill child.
