Nurse experiences of partnership nursing when caring for children with long-term conditions and their families: A qualitative systematic review

AimTo explore the experiences of partnership nursing among nurses when caring for children and young people with long-term conditions, and their families.BackgroundPartnership nursing is promoted as a positive model of care among paediatric nurses, where shared roles and decision-making, parental participation, mutual trust and respect, communication and negotiation are valued to create positive care experiences and enhance patient outcomes. Little is known about how nurses use partnership with both the patient and the parents in this triad to deliver partnership nursing.DesignA qualitative systematic review followed Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach and has been reported according to PRISMA guidelines.MethodsA comprehensive systematic search was conducted in seven electronic databases. Studies were assessed according to a pre-determined inclusion criteria. Qualitative findings with illustrative participant quotes were extracted from included studies and grouped into categories to inform overall synthesised findings. Methodological quality assessment was conducted.FindingsA total of 5837 publications were screened, and 41 qualitative studies were included. Three overarching synthesised findings were identified: (1) Using education to promote feelings of safety and support, (2) Partnering to develop a strong therapeutic relationship and (3) Optimising communication underpinned by shared decision-making principles to deliver individualised care.ConclusionNurses demonstrated successful partnership in their practice, but focused on developing dyadic nurse-parent and dyadic nurse-child partnerships. Future practice development that creates a three-way triadic partnership may aid therapeutic relationships and shared decision-making.Implications for clinical practiceClinicians can reflect on how dyadic partnerships (focusing on the child or the parent) may exclude opportunities for coherent care. Further exploration in practice, policy and research as to how nurses determine child competency and child and parent level of engagement in triadic partnership may improve the potential of meaningful shared decision-making.