Keywords
Child Health
Chronic Disease
Pediatric Nursing
How to Cite
Abstract
Objective: To explore the perceptions of nurses working in hospital pediatric settings and primary health care regarding the implementation of a telenursing service to follow children with continuous and complex care needs after discharge. Method: This is a qualitative study based on 18 semi-structured interviews with nurses from pediatric units of a university hospital and primary health care services in a city in Southern Brazil. Data were collected from March to June 2025 and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Nurses viewed telenursing as a strategy that supports care for these children and noted the high prevalence of such cases in hospital settings. They reported structural and organizational barriers that hinder adherence, including workload burden, technological limitations, and families’ social vulnerability. Participants suggested establishing a municipal call center and implementing shared care across levels of the health system. Conclusion: Telenursing was considered feasible and innovative for caring for children with chronic and complex conditions; however, successful implementation requires investment in infrastructure and reorganization of the Health Care Network. The development of shared care models between hospital services and primary health care, strengthened counter-referral pathways, and clinical protocols is recommended to consolidate this model.
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