The Parent-Nurse Relationship from the Perspective of Parents of Children with Cancer

This commentary reflects the views of Mrs N. Howlett a pediatric oncology nurse practitioner, and Mrs Linda Casey, mother of 16-year-old Jeremy Casey who died from alveolar soft part sarcoma in 1992. Howlett and Casey had a parent-nurse relationship throughout the 13 months that Jeremy received treatment before his death. A brief history of Jeremy's care is followed by reflections from Howlett and Casey about their parent-nurse relationship. The kind of care they describe corresponds to what Romaniuk and Kristjanson have labeled "Caring Completely" and 'Working Together." Howlett agreed to initiate the interviews after she was identified by Casey in a separate study as a "From the Heart Caregiver." The telephone interviews occurred 2 years after Jeremy died. The quoted segments describe key moments which took place throughout the treatment period from the parent perspective. Interpretive comments by Howlett (NH) introduce or follow the parent's (LC) comments.