Abstract
Objectives:
To analyze the apprehension of hospital culture by mothers/companions of children with cancer and discuss the construction of symbolic systems by mothers and their implications for the practice of pediatric nursing.
Methods:
This is a qualitative study. Twelve mothers who accompanied their children with cancer admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit participated in the non-directive group interviews. The theoretical framework is linked to the concept of culture by Clifford Geertz. The data collected were submitted to thematic analysis.
Results:
Mothers establish interaction in the hospital, acquire technical knowledge and scientific terminologies and apprehend the care recover their autonomy with the hospitalized child. They build significant symbols such as: leadership, decision making and search for information.
Conclusion:
Cancer makes mothers/companions strong enough to create symbolic systems that help them survive in the hospital environment. The nursing staff should help these mothers recover their autonomy.
Keywords:
Hospitalized Child; Neoplasms; Pediatric Intensive Care Units