How to Achieve Highly Professional Care in the Postoperative Ward : The Care of Infants and Toddlers
(2025) In Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing 40(1). p.95-99- Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of critical care nurses (CCNs) and registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) when monitoring and observing infants and toddlers recovering from anesthesia.
DESIGN: A qualitative design with a critical incident approach.
METHODS: Semistructured individual interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of CCNs and RNAs (n = 17) from postanesthesia care units at two hospitals. The critical incident technique approach was used to guide the interviews, and data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis.
FINDINGS: The main finding was the CCNs' and RNAs' description of how they "watch over the children and stay close" to provide emotional and physical... (More)
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of critical care nurses (CCNs) and registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) when monitoring and observing infants and toddlers recovering from anesthesia.
DESIGN: A qualitative design with a critical incident approach.
METHODS: Semistructured individual interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of CCNs and RNAs (n = 17) from postanesthesia care units at two hospitals. The critical incident technique approach was used to guide the interviews, and data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis.
FINDINGS: The main finding was the CCNs' and RNAs' description of how they "watch over the children and stay close" to provide emotional and physical safety. CCNs' and RNAs' experiences of observing and managing the children's small, immature airways were reflected in the theme "using situation awareness of the small, immature airways." The theme "understanding emergence agitation" describes the challenge that arises when children are anxious, feel insecure, and have pain, and the theme "having parents nearby" shows the necessity and value of involving parents in their children's care.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest that caring for infants and toddlers recovering from anesthesia requires experience and both technical and nontechnical skills. These are prerequisites for achieving readiness for planning, setting priorities, and adapting one's behavior if an adverse event occurs. Alertness and the ability to solve acute problems and make quick decisions are essential because of the risks associated with children's small, immature airways, as is the ability to understand and respond to emergence agitation. Having parents nearby is equally important for creating the conditions for compassionate child- and family-centered care.
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- author
- Sjöberg, Carina LU ; Ringdal, Mona ; Lundqvist, Pia LU and Jildenstål, Pether LU
- organization
- alternative title
- Hur man uppnår mycket professionell vård på postoperativ avdelning
- publishing date
- 2025
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing
- volume
- 40
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 95 - 99
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85197291654
- pmid:38958626
- ISSN
- 1532-8473
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jopan.2024.03.019
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Copyright © 2024 The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- id
- f2071d0c-e738-48fc-8835-4b579c42594f
- date added to LUP
- 2024-07-07 10:13:08
- date last changed
- 2025-07-08 14:59:37
@article{f2071d0c-e738-48fc-8835-4b579c42594f,
abstract = {{<p>PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of critical care nurses (CCNs) and registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) when monitoring and observing infants and toddlers recovering from anesthesia.</p><p>DESIGN: A qualitative design with a critical incident approach.</p><p>METHODS: Semistructured individual interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of CCNs and RNAs (n = 17) from postanesthesia care units at two hospitals. The critical incident technique approach was used to guide the interviews, and data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis.</p><p>FINDINGS: The main finding was the CCNs' and RNAs' description of how they "watch over the children and stay close" to provide emotional and physical safety. CCNs' and RNAs' experiences of observing and managing the children's small, immature airways were reflected in the theme "using situation awareness of the small, immature airways." The theme "understanding emergence agitation" describes the challenge that arises when children are anxious, feel insecure, and have pain, and the theme "having parents nearby" shows the necessity and value of involving parents in their children's care.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study suggest that caring for infants and toddlers recovering from anesthesia requires experience and both technical and nontechnical skills. These are prerequisites for achieving readiness for planning, setting priorities, and adapting one's behavior if an adverse event occurs. Alertness and the ability to solve acute problems and make quick decisions are essential because of the risks associated with children's small, immature airways, as is the ability to understand and respond to emergence agitation. Having parents nearby is equally important for creating the conditions for compassionate child- and family-centered care.</p>}},
author = {{Sjöberg, Carina and Ringdal, Mona and Lundqvist, Pia and Jildenstål, Pether}},
issn = {{1532-8473}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{95--99}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Journal of Perianesthesia Nursing}},
title = {{How to Achieve Highly Professional Care in the Postoperative Ward : The Care of Infants and Toddlers}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2024.03.019}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jopan.2024.03.019}},
volume = {{40}},
year = {{2025}},
}