Role development of nurses for technology-dependent children attending mainstream schools in Japan.

PURPOSE: To describe the role development of nurses caring for medical technology-dependent children attending Japanese mainstream schools.

DESIGN AND

METHODS

Semi-structured interviews with 21 nurses caring for technology-dependent children were conducted and analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach.

RESULTS

Nurses developed roles centered on maintaining technology-dependent children's physical health to support children's learning with each other, through building relationships, learning how to interact with children, understanding the children and the school community, and realizing the meaning of supporting technology-dependent children.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: These findings support nurses to build relationships of mutual trust with teachers and children, and learn on the job in mainstream schools.