Nursing perception of the children hospitalized in a university hospital

The study was carried out in order to determine the nursing perception of children hospital patients between the ages 6-18.The descriptive cross-sectional study was realized between the dates of February 2013-Februaru 2014 with children hospital patients. No sample selection was made and a sample was created out of the 206 children who accepted to participate the study. The data collection was prepared in line with literature and expert opinion; and the data collecting form, consisting of children's socio-demographic characteristics and written and pictured questions about the nursing perception was used.51 % of the participating children were girls and their average of age was 12,22 +/- 3,22. 46,1 % of the children were hospital patients due to a chronic illness and 31,6 % mention that they have experienced hospitalization many times. When the children were asked about the responsibilities of the nurses; while 74,8 % gave the answer that they give an injection, 1,9 % responded that they play with us. When the perception of nurses shown to the children through facial expressions according to age groups were analysed; 68 % marked good-humoured, 25,2 % tired, 3,9 % sad and 2,9 % angry. In line with the findings of the study it was seen that the children percept the nurse as good-humoured and besides of that they are more interested in concrete interferences and rarely add play to care. In line with these results it can be recommended that the nurses increase and support applications regarding appropriate psychosocial care in order to decrease the stress of the hospitalized children due to the illness and treatment and to convert the crisis to a benefit. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.