Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 16, 2025
A Modified Sonographic Algorithm for Image Acquisition in Life-Threatening Emergencies in the Critically Ill Newborn
Published on: April 7, 2023
An emotional journey when encountering children in prehospital care: Experiences from ambulance nurses
Mathias Näsström1, Lena Junehag1, Marie Häggström2
1MidSweden University, Department of Health Sciences, Nursing, 83125 Östersund, Sweden.
Background:
Care encounters with children are a challenging and important task, but opportunities for such encounters are rarely available. Therefore, ambulance nurses (ANs) face difficulties in gaining experience in properly handling children, which can lead to stress for the ANs. A deeper understanding of ANs' emotions through the course of the care encounter is needed.
Aim:
To describe how ambulance nurses' feel and manage their emotions before, during and after a care encounter with a child.
Methods:
A qualitative approach was adopted, with content analysis being performed on seventeen individual interviews.
Findings:
Three themes were identified: Feeling worried and insecure, Emotional surge, and Mixed feelings of satisfaction and concern.
Conclusion:
The ANs experienced a range of emotions during a care encounter with children as they had little experience with it. More training and education in paediatric care could benefit ANs. The ANs use professionalism during care encounters to create a calm and secure atmosphere for families. Their will to bring about a safe journey for the child and family through the care encounter supersedes their nervousness. Reflection after a care encounter could strengthen their confidence in their professional role and reduce emotional distress in future encounters.
