Caring between nursing students and physically/mentally handicapped children: a phenomenological study

Advanced technology has increased the life expectancy to age 20 for most chronically ill children. Consequently, nurses will be encountering an increasing number of physically and mentally handicapped children. Nursing students' discovery of the meaning of caring with exceptional children will help prepare them for interactions with these special children during their nursing careers. A phenomenological study was undertaken to explore 36 nursing students' caring experiences with physically and mentally handicapped children. Van Kaam's phenomenological methodology was used to analyze the data. Sharing the findings of this phenomenological study with nursing students is one approach faculty can use to help reduce their anxiety regarding upcoming clinical rotations with exceptional children.