Assessment of Pediatric Nurses’ Communication Skills with Children and Their Caregivers

Abstract

Effective communication is essential in pediatric nursing, where nurses must interact with both children and their caregivers to ensure safe, family-centered care. Despite its importance, limited quantitative evidence exists on pediatric nurses’ communication competencies in Saudi Arabia. The aim was to assess the level of communication skills among pediatric nurses when interacting with children and their caregivers. A cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative design was used. A convenience sample of 113 registered nurses from pediatric units completed a self-administered electronic questionnaire comprising a demographic survey and the Health Professionals Communication Skills Scale (HP-CSS). Most communication items scored at a high level (M = 3.54–3.85), with the highest score observed for respecting patient needs (M = 3.85). Three assertiveness-related items scored at a moderate level, including expressing disagreement (M = 3.06), difficulty making requests (M = 2.85), and difficulty asking for information (M = 3.20). Among the variables included in the model, age was the only factor significantly associated with communication skills. Participants aged 35–39 years (β = 0.66, 95% CI [0.00, 1.3], p = 0.049) and those aged 45–49 years (β = 0.99, 95% CI [0.21, 1.8], p = 0.014) had significantly higher communication scores compared to the reference group (aged 25–29). Pediatric nurses generally demonstrate strong communication skills, with specific gaps in assertiveness and proficiency in sign language. These findings highlight the need for targeted, experience-based communication training within pediatric nursing practice.