Children in accident and emergency: seen but not heard?

This study examined the ideas and beliefs about the care of children in Accident and Emergency (A & E) among a group of experienced nurses. The study was set in a single A & E department, during a time when a new paediatric area was being developed. Semi-structured interviews were used to generate qualitative data. Seven main themes emerged from the data, namely: priority of children in A & E; the role of the paediatric trained nurse in A & E; fear of dealing with children; staffing issues; a separate area for children; isolation; and motivation of staff. Further discussion of these issues, in the context of existing literature, confirmed the inherent difficulties in dealing with children in a predominantly adult environment.