Children's perceptions of pediatric nursing care have not been systematically taken into account in the development of the quality of care. Usually, parents have evaluated children's care and its quality. The purpose of this study was to examine children's expectations concerning the quality of pediatric nursing care by interviewing 20 preschool and 20 school-aged children in Finland. Twenty of them had insulindependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and visited the hospital on a regular basis, and 20 were treated on a surgical ward for a short period. Using content analysis, the interviews were coded and categories and subcategories identified. The children's expectations concerning the quality of nursing care were related to the nurse, nursing activities, and environment. They expected the nurses to be humane and reliable, have a good sense of humor, and wear colorful clothes at work. Both the nurses and the parents were expected to take part in nursing activities. The children expected from nurses, in particular, entertainment, educational, caring, and safety activities, while parents were expected to relieve fears and longing and to provide company. The children also emphasized the role of other children as part of good care. The results demonstrate that children are capable of offering valuable insights into the quality of pediatric nursing care. The results open new avenues for strengthening children's perspectives on pediatric nursing.

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This study assessed the quality of pediatric nursing care as perceived by children (N = 388) aged 7 to 11 in Finland. The children rated as excellent the nursing environment, the nurses' humanity and trustworthiness, and caring and communication. They were most critical about the nurses' entertainment activities such as playing with them. Children's age and type of admission were both related to the amount of information they received. The instrument used in the study needs to be developed and tested further.

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The CCQH questionnaire is a promising instrument for use among children. Future research is needed to evaluate its suitability for completion by children of varying ages and in different cultures and healthcare settings.