A reflexive thematic analysis of ambulance nurses' experience of facilitating child-centered care

Introduction: Ambulance nurses' (ANs) feel less confident treating children. According to the United Nations Convention on Child Rights, there is a provision to safeguard children's rights. Child-Centered Care (CCC) strives to lift children's voices in healthcare. Aim: To describe ambulance nurses' experiences of facilitating child-friendly care. Method: A qualitative approach with Reflexive Thematic Analysis was performed on seventeen individual semistructured interviews. Result: One overarching theme, caring with the child in center, and three themes were developed: adapting to follow the child's lead, being reliable by balancing the trust, stepping back and supporting. Discussion: The ANs' communication with the children was honest and straightforward. Letting the child and the parents perform the care together reduced the child's anxiety. Guided participation was used by ANs, expanding the child's initiative. Conclusion: The ANs work according to CCC, but unknowingly. It is important and beneficial to elevate the CCC to a conscious level. The ANs could refer to CCC in training new colleagues, reflecting on cases, and incorporating the Child Act in their work.