Setting and sample
Data were collected on one 28-bed unit in a Cana- dian tertiary children’s hospital. Children ages 0–18 years with medical and surgical conditions received care on the unit. A predominately registered nurse workforce cared for patients supported by clinical team assistants.
Purposive sampling was used in this study. Ten children undergoing surgery requiring them to remain as an inpatient for at least 48 hr postopera- tively were asked to take part in the study, as were their parents. The following groups were excluded: children in the intensive care unit, under 5 years, or unable to communicate verbally and children or parents who the nurses felt were too distressed to take part. All registered nurses working on the unit were asked to consider taking part in the study.