This study aimed to identify the way nurses communicate with children and to analyze how this communication takes place during nursing care. It is a descriptive study that uses concepts associated with social representations. The authors interviewed 49 nurses who care for children in the hospital setting. Data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews. After thematic analysis, results emphasized the importance of spoken language, behavioral language and professional attitude. As evidenced, communication is presented as a phenomenon separate from child care, transcending the transmission of linear information. It is concluded that, in terms of understanding the communication phenomenon in child care, the way in which communication is presented and translated characterizes the relevance of nursing actions that point to a comprehensive perspective in child care.
Nursing care; Nurse-patient relationships; Communication; Pediatric nursing
