Emotional labour of Nursing: a scoping review on pediatric care contexts

Abstract

The research on emotional labor in nursing is already evident, however it is necessary to explain this field of intervention within its specific fields, namely, the pediatrics, which comprises several contexts. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and systematize the publications availability within electronic research tools, about emotional labor in diverse pediatrics nursing care
contexts, their focus, and which theories, models, algorithms and other practice guidelines which explains and sustain the emotional labor in pediatric nursing care. Following the Arksey & O'Malley (2005) methodology, 29 publications for review were identified, in which the scientific literature predominates (n=19), being the most studied pediatric contexts: pediatric inpatient service, pediatric palliative care and neonatal intensive care. Despite the lack of investigation within this scope, it appears that the emotional labor in pediatric nursing is valued, and its conception converges to a predominance of the focus on intra, inter and extrapersonal emotional labor (an integrative perspective). This review identifies research and development opportunities regarding the emotional labor
concept in the pediatrics nursing care contexts, as significant gaps in qualitative and quantitative research were identified, including mixed studies, as well as the emotional labor in nursing conceptual and clinical models development.