Family-centered care is a challenge for nursing area, although the home care was described in the professional history since its origins. The definition of this approach, its principles and the discussion about its application in pediatric nursing are described in the text aiming to lead to a reflection about the possibilities of family care, by means of attention to the individual and to the family unit. Among the several areas, the pediatric nursing is highlighted with researches and the development of theoretical assumptions.

The purposes of this qualitative study were to understand the meaning of the interactions experienced by the family during a child's hospitalization, identify the family's demands and construct a theoretical model representing this experience. Symbolic Interactionism was adopted as a theoretical and Grounded Theory as a methodological reference framework. Data were collected by means of observation and interviews with five families of children hospitalized due to acute disease with a good prognosis. The analysis identified two interactive phenomena: losing control of the functioning, which expresses the situations experienced by the families, which generate demands; and seeking a new functioning rhythm, which shows the strategies the family undertakes to take care of the hospitalized child and maintain its functioning. The identification of the central category and the construction of the Theoretical Model represent the meaning of the experience for families during the hospitalization of one of their children.

How to cite this article: Pinto JP, MandettaI MA, Ribeiro CA. The family living the child recovery process after hospital discharge.Rev Bras Enferm. 2015;68(4):510-7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2015680304iSubmission: 03-07-2015 Approval: 04-27-2015 ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the meaning attributed by the family to its experience in the recovery process of a child affected by an acute disease after discharge, and to develop a theoretical model of this experience. Symbolic interactionism was adopted as a theoretical reference, and grounded theory was adopted as a methodological reference. Method: data were collected through interviews and participant observation with 11 families, totaling 15 interviews. A theoretical model consisting of two interactive phenomena was formulated from the analysis: Mobilizing to restore functional balance and Suffering from the possibility of a child's readmission. Results: the family remains alert to identify early changes in the child's health, in an attempt to avoid rehospitalization. Conclusion: the effects of the disease and hospitalization continue to manifest in family functioning, causing suffering even after the child's discharge and recovery. Key words: Family; Child; Convalescence; Nursing; Patient Discharge. RESUMO Objetivo: compreender o signifi cado atribuído pela família à sua vivência no processo de recuperação da criança acometida por doença aguda, após a alta hospitalar e elaborar um modelo teórico a respeito dessa experiência. O Interacionismo Simbólico foi adotado como referencial teórico e a Grounded Theory como metodológico. Método: os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista e observação participante com 11 famílias, totalizando 15 entrevistas. A análise levou à formulação de um Modelo Teórico composto por dois fenômenos interativos: Mobilizando-se para resgatar o equilíbrio de seu funcionamento e Sofrendo com a possibilidade de reintegrar a criança. Resultados: estes revelaram que a família mantém-se em alerta para identifi car precocemente alterações de saúde da criança na tentativa de evitar uma reinternação. Conclusão: os efeitos da doença e hospitalização continuam a manifestar-se no funcionamento familiar, gerando sofrimento mesmo após a alta e a recuperação da criança. Descritores: Família; Criança; Convalescença; Enfermagem; Alta do Paciente. RESUMENObjetivo: comprender el signifi cado atribuido por la familia de su experiencia en la recuperación de los niños afectados por el proceso de la enfermedad aguda, después de la descarga y desarrollar un modelo teórico sobre la experiencia. El Interaccionismo Simbólico fue adoptado como un teórico y la Teoría Fundamentada como metodológico. Método: los datos fueron recolectados a través de entrevistas y observación participante con 11 familias, con un total de 15 entrevistas. El análisis dio lugar a la formulación de un modelo teórico consta de dos fenómenos interactivos: Movilización para restaurar el balance de su funcionamiento y Sufriendo con la posibilidad de reinternar el niño. Re...

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