Hospitalized Children’s Perceptions of Nursing Care: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Questionnaire Ratings and Coded Drawings

Purpose: To examine hospitalized children’s perceptions of nursing care by integrating questionnaire ratings with coded drawings and exploring correspondence between the data sources.

Design and methods: This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of 82 children aged 5–15 years hospitalized in a Greek tertiary hospital. Children completed a culturally adapted CCQH-informed questionnaire and a standardized “Please draw a nurse” task. Drawings were coded using a predefined visual-content framework.

Results: The questionnaire total score demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .79) and a mean of 45.00 (SD = 7.25). Nurses appeared in 64.6% of drawings. Among applicable drawings, 75.5% showed a positive nurse facial expression and 74.5% used predominantly bright or warm nurse-associated colors. Older children reported less fear (ρ = .40, p < .001) but lower Hospital Environment scores (ρ = −.24, p = .027). Parental age was weakly associated with the total score (r = .26, p = .021), whereas most other participant characteristics were not. Among 26 drawings with codable nurse–child interaction, active caring interaction corresponded with higher Nursing Activities scores (U = 33.00, p = .027; rrb = .54).

Conclusions: Children’s responses emphasized nurses’ interpersonal characteristics, whereas responses concerning nursing activities were more variable. Questionnaire and drawing findings jointly highlighted relational and developmentally responsive care, although the exploratory findings require caution.

Practice implications: Pediatric nurses should strengthen age-appropriate communication, procedural preparation, play, emotional support, and participation. Drawings discussed through open-ended questions may complement child-reported experience measures.