The lived experience of mothers caring for children who survived near drowning

Abstract

Phenomenological methodology was used to study the lived experiences of three mothers caring for their children who had survived near drowning, with severe neurological deficits. The study used Watson's Conceptual Model as well as Attachment Theory as a basis for exploration of the topic and to organize a Review of the Literature focused on the caring of a child with a disability or a chronic illness. The four theme categories emerging from the data included: 1) A Different Life, tn which the abrupt changes to the families' lives _was described, 2) The Paradox in Living, in which the mothers looked for normalcy in their lives while recognizing that things would never be the same, 3) The Obligation of Caring, in which the time consumption and difficulty of care was described, and 4) Connecting with the Child, discussing the children's efforts to communicate as well as the mothers' recognition of the same. The Implications for Nursing speaks to the fine line that the nurses involved must tread between maintaining professionalism while being respectful of the sanctity of the families' homes when providing nursing care to children who have survived near drowning with severe neurological deficits.