Trauma-Informed Care in Pediatric Oncology Nursing

Childhood cancer is highly stressful and potentially traumatic for families. While trauma-informed care (TIC) aims to address these impacts, little is known about how pediatric oncology nurses understand and use TIC in practice.

This study was conducted using a qualitative descriptive design to explore pediatric oncology nurses' perceptions of trauma and trauma-informed care. Fifteen nurses with at least 1 year of experience working in a pediatric oncology unit in a city hospital in Türkiye were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected between June and July 2025 through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured interview guide based on the Trauma-Informed Care Pyramid, and analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis approach.

Five major themes were identified: (1) family- and child-centered communication and care, (2) understanding the health effects of trauma, (3) interprofessional collaboration, (4) understanding one's own history and reactions, and (5) screening and evaluation processes. Additionally, metaphor analysis revealed that nurses frequently described trauma as destructive objects, dark colors, natural disasters, harsh seasons, and bitter tastes underscoring perceptions of trauma as overwhelming and difficult to endure. These findings highlight both the potential for TIC integration and the current gaps in systematic training and organizational support.

Pediatric oncology nurses recognize the effects of trauma and the need for psychosocial care, yet structured TIC practices remain limited. Integrating TIC principles into nursing education, strengthening team collaboration, and implementing systematic screening are key to improving holistic, family-centered care.