Student Corner
Significant relationships: Nurses caring for adolescents with cystic fibrosis
Holli Ayn Tippl
Bachelor of Nursing (Honours), La Trobe University, Melbourne VIC
PP: 123 - 128
Abstract
Nurses in this study manage the challenges of meeting the unique needs of adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF) by fostering 'significant relationships' with them.
These relationships are characterised by friendship, reciprocity, choice, involvement and 'being there'; while shared histories, dealing with a protracted illness trajectory, and nursing within a chronic/terminal dichotomy emerge as the contextual aspects.
The relationships are perceived as beneficial and mutually rewarding. However, such implications as the line between professional and personal involvement, the adolescents' vulnerability and the resources and support needs of nurses must be considered.
Keywords
cystic fibrosis in adolescence, palliative treatment - Australia, nurse attitudes - Australia
References
Adams DW and Deveau EJ (1986) Helping dying adolescents: Needs and responses. In CA Corr and J McNeil (eds) Adolescence and death. Springer, New York, pp.79-96.
Bolle J (1989) Supporting the deliverers of care: Strategies to support nurses and prevent burnout. Holistic Nursing Practice 3(4): 63-71.
Coody D (1985) High expectations: Nurses who work with children who might die. Nursing Clinics of North America 20(1): 131-142.
Kastenbaum RJ (1977) Death, Society, and Human Experience. Mosby, St Louis.
Marck P (1990) Therapeutic reciprocity: A caring phenomenon. Advances in Nursing Science 3(1): 49-59.
McCaffrey-Boyle D (1992) Nurse-patient friendships in cancer care: Enhancers of stress or markers of success. In C Bailey (ed) Cancer Nursing Changing Frontiers. Rapid Communications, United Kingdom, pp.106-108.
Mills D and Pennoni M (1986) A nurturing work environment: In philosophy and practice. Cancer Nursing 9(3): 117-124.
Pazola KJ and Gerberg AK (1990) Privileged communication - Talking with a dying adolescent. Maternal Child Nursing 15: 16-20.
Raudonis BM (1993) The meaning and impact of empathetic relationships in hospice nursing. Cancer Nursing 16(4): 304-309.
Sandelowski M (1986) The problem of rigor in qualitative research. Advances in Nursing Science 8(3): 27-37.
Saunders J and Valente S (1994) Nurses' grief. Cancer Nursing 17(4): 318-325.
Stiles M (1994) The shining stranger: application of the phenomenological method in the investigation of the nurse-family spiritual relationship. Cancer Nursing 17(1): 18-26.
Trygstad L (1986) Professional friends: The inclusion of the personal into the professional. Cancer Nursing 9(6): 326-332.
Van Manen M (1990) Researching lived experience: Human science for an action sensitive pedagogy. University of Western Ontario, London.
Waechter EH (1985) Dying children: Patterns of coping. Issues in Comprehensive Pediatric Nursing 1(9): 51-68.
eContent Home
