How to work with parents of malnourished children
The experience of six Kenyan nurses
Background In Nyanza in western Kenya are 30,5% of children estimated as malnourished. It is a family situation that nurses often come in contact with. Therefore it is of interest to know how nurses work with parents of malnourished children when they have a significant role in developing the family's knowledge and child health. Aim. The aim is to investigate how nurses experience that they are working with parents of malnourished children. Method. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with a life-world approach were conducted. All respondents work at St. Joseph Mission Hospital. Results. The study shows the nurses long-term goal was to change parents thought patterns regarding their situation and the role nutrition play in it. To identify each family's uniqueness is crucial to this change, the identification determines the content of the relationship and nurses' attitudes. Providing security, knowledge about nutrition, participation in the caring of the child and a personal relationship with the parents of malnourished children, are important elements in the relationship. The reflection of the nurses also constitute a significant part of the work. Discussion. The nurses work to guide parents to a change in thought patterns and can be viewed as individually foundation stones for how nurses work with parents of malnourished children. The essence is changing the parents thought patterns about their behavior, perception and knowledge regarding nutrition. To achieve optimal results, it requires that the nurse works self-reflectively, with openness and attention and that nurses design education individually. Clinical implications. How the Kenyan nurses works to distinguish empathy and sympathy in practice, can be a useful reflection in health care in Sweden. In the nurses attitudes and actions, they use their emotions to create a personal and professional relationship. The Kenyan nurses' ways of dealing with their emotions, can create new alternative approach among Swedish nurses.