Parent and nurse perceptions of parent stressors in the pediatric intensive care unit

This study examined parent and nurse perceptions of parent stressors in a pediatric intensive care unit using the Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PSS:PICU) and standardized interviews of parents. A total of 41 parents and 34 nurses participated. Nurses expected parents to be more stressed by every dimension of the PSS:PICU than parents rated their own stress. Parents felt most stressed by the dimension relating to their child's behavioral and emotional responses, although nurses expected parents to be most concerned about staff communication and parental role alteration issues. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.