Effects of Working at the Pediatric Oncology Unit on Personal and Professional Lives of Nurses

Background: Cancer is a universal problem that increases day by day and that has negative effects on patients from all age groups. Oncology nurses and other health professionals, who serve children with cancer, witness the suffering or death of these children. Methodology: This study is a qualitative study that aims to analyze the effects of working at the pediatric oncology units on personal and professional lives of the nurses. For this aim, we used semi-structured in-depth interview method. Results: Participant nurses were in a close relationship with the children with cancer and their parents. They developed empathy towards the children and their parents and sympathized with them. Although the participants expressed that working at the pediatric oncology unit, which may sometimes be mentally exhausting, required special skills and attention, they were satisfied with their jobs. Finally, loss of the children led the participants to question their attitudes towards life. They stated that all patients are individually unique, nothing is worse than the death of a child, enjoying your life to the full is important and every breath you take is valuable. Conclusions: The participants expressed that working with children with cancer is a valuable experience for their personal and professional lives. They are satisfied with their jobs. Finally, lessons, which they derive from the experiences with the children with cancer and their parents, have a positive effect on the attitudes of the participants towards their lives.