Maintaining integrity: How nurses navigate boundaries in pediatric palliative care

摘要: Abstract Purpose To explore how nurses manage personal and professional boundaries in caring for seriously ill children their families. Design methods Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, convenience sample of 18 registered from four practice sites was interviewed using semi-structured interview guide. Results Nurses across the engaged process maintaining integrity whereby they integrated two competing, yet essential, aspects nursing role – behaving professionally connecting personally. When skillful both aspects, were satisfied that provided high-quality, family-centered care to families within clearly defined therapeutic relationship. At times, tension existed between these attempted mitigate tension. Unsuccessful mitigation attempts led compromised characterized by specific behavioral emotional indicators. Successfully mitigating with strategies prioritized own needs healing, eventually restored integrity. Maintaining involved continuous effort preserve completeness oneself one's practice. Conclusions Study findings provide theoretical conceptualization describe use navigating contribute an understanding this specialized area impacts health providers. Practice Implications Work environments can better address challenges through offering resources support nurses' responses children. Future research further refine expand presented paper its potential applicability other specialties.