Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
The mothers in the study provided a wide range of activities for
their children including the normal activities of feeding, bathing,
washing, communication, dressing and clothing, eating, mobilising,
pain, play, sleeping and assisting with toilet needs. However,
mothers reported on the highly technical aspects of care that their
children required including managing various types of tubes,
dressings, shunts, medications and airway management. Highly
complex skills of medication, pain and seizure management are
undertaken. This involves highly technical assessment and
observation skills as well as high level problem solving and decision
making.
Additionally mothers reported on the specific, individualised needs
of their children in relation to particular symptoms that were
displayed. These ranged from constant, unexplained, incessant
crying, hypersensitivity to touch and cold, abnormal startle reflexes
and finger chewing. The need for constant observation to maintain
safety and comfort was reported.
Finally mothers also outlined the fragility in their children’s
conditions and the unstable nature of the children’s needs during
episodes of aspiration, chest infections, unexplained episodes of
deterioration, possible “near death” and progressive deterioration.
The instability of the children’s conditions also required the mothers
to monitor their children constantly for signs of deterioration,
changes in normal behaviours or patterns, the onset of illness and
to manage these situations, often without help.
The data collected provides for a greater understanding of the
mothers’ experiences in caring for a child with complex needs. In
order to ensure that health professionals are able to provide
adequate and appropriate support for mothers in this technical caregiving
role they need to better understand this aspect of the
mothers’ experiences.
References
Available on request
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