A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD: EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY NURSING

Abstract

Pediatric oncology nursing represents a highly specialized healthcare domain that requires nurses to provide comprehensive care to children with cancer while simultaneously managing profound emotional demands. Nurses working in pediatric oncology units face distinctive emotional challenges alongside meaningful rewards, experiences that significantly impact both their professional development and personal well-being. This study sought to examine the emotional challenges and rewards experienced by pediatric oncology nurses and to characterize these experiences within the framework of pediatric oncology care delivery. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 nurses employed at Hiwa Hospital, Nanakaly Hospital, and the Oncology Department of Rizgary Teaching Hospital in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data underwent analysis using conventional content analysis methodology. Data analysis yielded the overarching theme of "A Double-Edged Sword: Emotional Challenges and Rewards of Pediatric Oncology Nursing," which encompassed two primary categories: rewards of oncology nursing and challenges of oncology nursing. Subcategories illuminated nurses' experiences including children's resilience and trust, personal growth, finding meaning in incremental victories, the emotional burden of patient loss, balancing emotional and professional responsibilities, family and ethical challenges, and the complex emotional landscape of pediatric oncology. Pediatric oncology nursing encompasses both significant emotional burdens and profoundly meaningful experiences. Understanding and addressing these challenges can enhance nurses' well-being, improve the quality of patient care, and inform the development of targeted support and training programs for oncology nursing professionals.