Exploring Anxiety Levels Among Hospitalised School Age Children facing Pediatric Nursing Procedures

Background: Anxiety is required at certain level but excessive anxiety may affect adversely on emotional status of children. Current trend of Pediatric nursing says do not harm physically and psychologically, to understand this we need to investigate anxiety level among children related to nursing procedure. Aim: This study is aiming to investigate anxiety level of hospitalised children facing selected nursing procedures. Methods: A descriptive survey included 400 hospitalised children aged in between 6-10 years by using purposive sampling technique. Anxiety of children related to nursing procedure was assessed through standardized tool Venham Picture Test (VPT), along with demographic data was assessed. Frequency & percentage of anxiety level determined by using MS excel. Results: Survey reveals that majority of 66% children had average anxiety, 24% were having high anxiety and 1.75% having very high level of anxiety; while only 8.25% children stated they having low anxiety, not a single child reported very low & no anxiety related to nursing procedure. Conclusion: Hospitalised children having anxiety not only related to doctors or hospital but the nursing procedures are a notable cause to think of it. Measures needs to be determined to relieve anxiety of children.