Communicating with children in A & E: what skills does the nurse need?

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nursing
• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Children under 16 constitute up to 30% of UK Accident & Emergency (A&E) attendances.
• Existing literature on pediatric A&E care often emphasizes nurse training and environmental factors.
• There is a notable gap in research regarding the specific communication skills needed by A&E nurses for pediatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate essential communication skills for A&E nurses caring for preschool children.
• To identify the knowledge and experience base required for effective nurse-child communication in A&E.
• To discuss strategies for developing these specialized communication skills.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of communication challenges in A&E pediatric care.
• Literature review focusing on pediatric communication and nursing practice.
• Exploration of theoretical frameworks for therapeutic communication with children.

Main Results:

• Identified key communication barriers between A&E nurses and preschool children.
• Highlighted the importance of age-appropriate language, non-verbal cues, and play in communication.
• Emphasized the need for specialized training in pediatric communication for A&E nurses.

Conclusions:

• Effective communication with preschool children in A&E is crucial for quality care.
• A&E nurses require specific communication skills, knowledge, and experience to effectively engage with young patients.
• Development of targeted training programs is recommended to enhance nurses' communication abilities in pediatric A&E settings.