This research aimed to understand the child's experiences with Chronic Renal Insufficiency and analyze the significance it attaches to this experience. As a theoretical and methodological reference, it has been used, respectively, the Symbolic Interactionism and the Grounded Theory. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data, allowing us to explore the definitions exposed by each child. There were eight children interviewed, between the ages of seven and fourteen years old. Eight conceptual categories emerged that outlined the child's psychological changes when confronted with the disease: "Discovering the disease", "Suffering Daily Changes", "Feeling that he or she is being a burden to others", "Suffering with other problems", "Trying to get used to it", "Making himself equal to other children", "Not being strong enough" and "Planning the future". The process of adapting to a chronic disease during childhood is very complex and it changes as the child and his family, overcome the previous obstacles. Listening to the child is very important for us to identify his needs and to assure compassionate assistance.
Renal Insufficiency Chronic; Child; Family Nursing
