Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study

Abstract Background Pediatric nursing is a specialized field that requires not only the provision of care to children, who are a unique group, but also the roles of advocacy and prevention, in addition to modern nursing roles. As a result, it may be perceived differently in nursing education compare...

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Main Authors: Emine Bayrak Aykan, Tutku Kırcı Temiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:BMC Nursing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03187-6
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author Emine Bayrak Aykan
Tutku Kırcı Temiz
author_facet Emine Bayrak Aykan
Tutku Kırcı Temiz
author_sort Emine Bayrak Aykan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Pediatric nursing is a specialized field that requires not only the provision of care to children, who are a unique group, but also the roles of advocacy and prevention, in addition to modern nursing roles. As a result, it may be perceived differently in nursing education compared to other core subjects. The aim of this study is to explore the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of Turkish and international students taking the pediatric nursing course. Methods This research is a qualitative study utilizing a phenomenological approach. The study was conducted with nursing students who took the pediatric nursing course at a foundation university. A total of 23 students who agreed to participate were included in the study. In-depth interviews, each lasting approximately 40 min, were conducted with each student. A semi-structured form was used during the interviews, and thematic analysis was performed on the collected data. Ethical approval and participant consent were obtained prior to the study. Results As a result of the interviews, three main themes and five sub-themes emerged regarding the students’ views on the pediatric nursing course. The themes were perception, thoughts, and experiences. The sub-themes were: child, positive thoughts, negative thoughts, personal development, and professional development. Conclusion The study revealed that the pediatric nursing course was challenging for both groups of students and provided an opportunity to experience various emotions. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize that this course can provide valuable experiences for nursing students in preparation for their future careers. Additionally, to facilitate students’ transition into pediatric practice, it is recommended to create a learning environment that emotionally supports students, including an orientation process aimed at providing a positive learning experience and fostering a therapeutic environment that supports role transitions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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spelling doaj-art-a9910fa6520d40dc873b186bef24930f2025-08-20T01:51:39ZengBMCBMC Nursing1472-69552025-05-0124111010.1186/s12912-025-03187-6Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative studyEmine Bayrak Aykan0Tutku Kırcı Temiz1Faculty of Nursing, Hacettepe UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, Ankara Medipol UniversityAbstract Background Pediatric nursing is a specialized field that requires not only the provision of care to children, who are a unique group, but also the roles of advocacy and prevention, in addition to modern nursing roles. As a result, it may be perceived differently in nursing education compared to other core subjects. The aim of this study is to explore the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of Turkish and international students taking the pediatric nursing course. Methods This research is a qualitative study utilizing a phenomenological approach. The study was conducted with nursing students who took the pediatric nursing course at a foundation university. A total of 23 students who agreed to participate were included in the study. In-depth interviews, each lasting approximately 40 min, were conducted with each student. A semi-structured form was used during the interviews, and thematic analysis was performed on the collected data. Ethical approval and participant consent were obtained prior to the study. Results As a result of the interviews, three main themes and five sub-themes emerged regarding the students’ views on the pediatric nursing course. The themes were perception, thoughts, and experiences. The sub-themes were: child, positive thoughts, negative thoughts, personal development, and professional development. Conclusion The study revealed that the pediatric nursing course was challenging for both groups of students and provided an opportunity to experience various emotions. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize that this course can provide valuable experiences for nursing students in preparation for their future careers. Additionally, to facilitate students’ transition into pediatric practice, it is recommended to create a learning environment that emotionally supports students, including an orientation process aimed at providing a positive learning experience and fostering a therapeutic environment that supports role transitions. Clinical trial number Not applicable.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03187-6Pediatric nursingNursing studentExperience
spellingShingle Emine Bayrak Aykan
Tutku Kırcı Temiz
Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study
BMC Nursing
Pediatric nursing
Nursing student
Experience
title Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study
title_full Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study
title_fullStr Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study
title_short Experiences of Turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course: a qualitative study
title_sort experiences of turkish and international students in pediatric nursing course a qualitative study
topic Pediatric nursing
Nursing student
Experience
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03187-6
work_keys_str_mv AT eminebayrakaykan experiencesofturkishandinternationalstudentsinpediatricnursingcourseaqualitativestudy
AT tutkukırcıtemiz experiencesofturkishandinternationalstudentsinpediatricnursingcourseaqualitativestudy