Abstract
The paper describes a Norwegian study from 1998, (2) based on a phenomenological approach where six mothers are interviewed. The mothers stayed together with their children in hospital. The children were hospitalized for minor surgery. They stayed in hospital for three to four days at a small section for children location at a ward for adults. The children were from four to eleven years old. This paper focuses division of labour and responsibility between mothers and nurses, during hospital stays for children.
In Norway such interactions are regulated by law (1). The findings from this study indicate that the mothers take responsibility for basic mothering care. According to the mothers the nurses involvement in nursing care for the children is reduced by the presence of the mothers in the ward.