Seeking to understand the nursing professional caring for children with neoplasms

a phenomenological study

Abstract

In 2005, pediatric cancer was considered the second cause of death in Brazil, being classified into several categories. The technological and pharmacological innovations that emerged increasingly provided support against neoplastic diseases, leading to the survival of children with cancer by the use of new hemotherapy modalities, bone marrow transplants, specialized care and proper nutrition. The nursing professional who experiences care with children with neoplastic disease deals with issues of their own professional practice as well as impacting emotional factors when faced with the limit of life and death of these patients. The article is a phenomenological study that aims to understand the meaning of caring for children with neoplastic disease for the nursing professional. Qualitative and descriptive study, conducted through 14 interviews with nursing professionals from the pediatric unit of a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, respecting the ethical principles of scientific research. Five units of significance were found and analyzed based on the thoughts of the philosopher Martin Heidegger. The results reveal that the nursing professional when caring for children with neoplastic disease is advertised as being "with", governed by solicitude, concern, patience, love and dedication. Professionals reported specificities in their care, realizing that these children often face death. Therefore, nursing care must be carried out in a responsible, ethical, humanized and scientific way, highlighting the performance based on science, legislation and patient safety associated with love and commitment to the profession. Key words: Pediatric nursing. Child. Neoplasms.