Purpose
This study examined how nurse staffing and parental caregiving burden influence patient experiences in pediatric wards. Methods: The sample included 326 parents of pediatric patients at a tertiary children’s hospital. Nurse staffing was measured using parent-perceived staffing adequacy (4-point scale) and registered nurse hours per patient day (RN HPPD). Parent experiences were evaluated using the Child Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (Child HCAHPS), with items rated on 3-, 4-, or 11-point scales and subsequently converted to scores on a 0–100 scale. Parents also reported their caregiving burden experienced during their child’s hospitalization. Results: Among the Child HCAHPS domains, nurse–parent communication received the highest score, while lower scores were reported in child-specific domains, including teen involvement, quietness, and child comfort. Most parents (80.4%) stayed at the hospital either all or nearly all the time, and 63.5% perceived caregiving as burdensome. Commonly reported burdens included economic and work-related challenges, physical and psychological stressors, and responsibilities related to caring for other children. Higher levels of parent-perceived staffing adequacy and greater RN HPPD were significantly associated with better patient experiences. Conclusion: Improving nurse staffing may alleviate parental caregiving burden and improve patient and parent experiences in pediatric wards.

Purpose
This study explores how nursing professionalism impacts the quality of pediatric nursing care. Specifically, we examine the mediating effects of clinical decision making and pediatric nurse-parent partnership among pediatric nurses.
Methods
The study involved 133 nurses working in pediatric wards within regions S, C, and D. Data were collected during August 2022 and analyzed using SPSS/WINdows software version 26.0 and PROCESS macro for SPSS version 4.2.
Results
The double mediating effect of clinical decision making and the pediatric nurse-parent on the relationship between nursing professionalism and the quality of pediatric nursing care was statistically significant.
Conclusion
Improving nursing professionalism, enhancing clinical decision making, and strengthening the pediatric nurse-parent partnership are valuable strategies for enhancing the quality of pediatric nursing care among such nurses.

Citations

• Examining the relationship between nurses’ professional self-efficacy and parents’ perception of family-centered care
  Sana Khalilzadeh Zia, Masoumeh Aghamohammadi, Shohreh Moshfeghi, Nazila Vosoghi
  BMC Nursing.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Medication safety in paediatric nursing: A call for deeper insight beyond self-reports - A response to
  Diana Rosa Albuquerque, Paulo Santos-Costa, Márcia Pestana-Santos
  Journal of Pediatric Nursing.2025; 85: 257.     CrossRef