Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric gastroenteritis is a critical inflammatory condition affecting the stomach and intestines, characterized by acute diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Often accompanied by fever and dehydration, these symptoms typically persist for less than two weeks. Despite the common misnomer “stomach flu,” gastroenteritis remains a leading global health challenge. In 2011, approximately 1.7 billion cases were recorded, resulting in nearly 700,000 deaths among children under the age of five, with the highest prevalence in developing nations. Acute gastroenteritis remains a leading cause of morbidity among children globally, characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, often resulting in dehydration and significant discomfort. In children, these symptoms are not only physically distressing but frequently impair functional status, including oral intake, activity levels, sleep, and participation in normal daily routines. Objective: The primary objective of this study is to assess the nursing role in pain assessment and functional-status monitoring for children with gastroenteritis, with an emphasis on alignment with evidence-based guideline recommendations within clinical settings. Methodology: A descriptive correlational (cross-sectional) design was used to assess nursing practices related to pain and functional-status assessment in pediatric gastroenteritis at Al-Khansaa Teaching Hospital and Ibn Al-Atheer Teaching Hospital in Mosul, Iraq. Sample: A non-probability (purposive) sample consisting of 50 nurses currently working in the pediatric departments. Instruments: Data collection used a structured self-report questionnaire to assess nurses’ reported use of standardized pain assessment and functional-status monitoring. The findings indicated that nursing performance regarding guideline-aligned assessment and monitoring was suboptimal. Nurses demonstrated a significant gap in applying evidence-based guidelines to their daily practice. Furthermore, the data revealed a statistically significant correlation between the nurses’ demographic profiles (such as educational level and years of experience) and their clinical competency. Conclusion: The study concludes that the nursing role in pediatric gastroenteritis care is currently underperforming relative to international evidence-based standards. There is a critical need for professional development and targeted training programs to bridge this gap. Improving nursing interventions is essential for optimizing patient outcomes and reducing the morbidity associated with this condition in the region.