# Experiences of Working With Refugee Children From Ukraine: An Interview Study With School Nurses

## TL;DR

This study explores how school nurses in Sweden experience working with refugee children from Ukraine, highlighting the importance of health conversations and cultural awareness.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the experiences of school nurses working with Ukrainian refugee children and suggests ways to improve health support through cultural awareness.

## Key findings

- School nurses identified four key categories in their work with Ukrainian refugee children, including health conversations and challenges during health visits.
- The study emphasizes the importance of cultural awareness in promoting the health of Ukrainian refugee children.
- Health conversations were described as a significant part of the interaction between school nurses and refugee children.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of school nurses working with refugee children from Ukraine.

This research was conducted as a qualitative interview study, using an inductive approach and a semi‐structured interview guide.

School nurses (n = 8) from different parts of Sweden were interviewed, and the data were analyzed through a qualitative content analysis. The COREQ guidelines were followed for reporting study findings.

Four categories were identified in the analysis: (1) Initial health conversations with the Ukrainian refugee children, (2) Experience of challenges during the health visits, (3) The impact of war on the Ukrainian refugee children, and (4) To have a health‐promoting everyday life.

The present study shows that the school nurse has an important function in promoting the health of Ukrainian refugee children, and describes the health conversation as a significant part of the meeting with these children. The work of public health nurses in schools in supporting Ukrainian refugee children can be optimized through increased cultural awareness, which can help promote the children's overall health.

The study question was identified in discussion with school nurses.