Pediatric oncology nurses' perceptions of prognosis-related communication.

BACKGROUND: Disclosure of prognosis-related information is an essential aspect of communication with pediatric patients with cancer and their families. The nurse is believed to play an important role in this process, but nurse perceptions and experiences have not been well-described. PURPOSE: Provide an exploration of pediatric oncology nurses' experiences with prognosis-related communication (PRC). METHOD: Mixed-methods, multiphase design. This paper highlights the qualitative portion of the study. FINDINGS: Three themes were identified: Importance of collaboration, impact of PRC, and delivery of prognostic information. DISCUSSION: Collaboration is a critical element of PRC. Nurses are often not included in the disclosure process, which limits the ability of nurses to fully function in their roles, compromising patient, family, and nurse outcomes. A paradigm shift is required to empower nurses to be more active participants. More education of physicians and nurses is necessary to consistently engage nurses in PRC and prepare nurses for critical conversations.