Introduction. A child's stay in hospital is not only care for him/her, but also their parent. The parent present in the ward is an inseparable element of the therapeutic team. The nurse helps in adapting to the new environment through contacts and partner relations with the child. Parents, thanks to their presence, ensure the child's safety and reduce anxiety. Aim. The aim of the study was to clarify whether the hospitalization process is a difficult situation for a child in the opinion of his/her parents and medical staff. Material and methods. The research material was collected using a questionnaire containing 31 questions for parents as well as for nursing staff working in the pediatric ward. The study included 110 parents and 79 nurses. Results. Almost three-fourths of respondents (71.6%) fully agree with the opinion about the beneficial impact of the presence of a parent by the child during hospitalization. Most parents claim that nursing staff cares for patients properly (61.6%) and have a high level of professional skills. 57.9% of parents say that nurses provide their children with safety not only physical but also psychological. Over half of the respondents (65.6%) believe that nurses approach a small patient with full respect. In the opinion of nurses surveyed, the presence of a parent by the child is beneficial for the child and the treatment process. 80.7% confirm that the presence of a parent is of special importance in the case of a child with a difficult verbal contact. Conclusions. 1) The presence of a parent positively influences the acceptance of the environmental change and increases the sense of security during the hospitalization process. 2) The contact with the parent has a significant impact on the further treatment of the child through the exchange of information between the nursing staff and the parent. 3) The nursing staff provides emotional comfort to the child during the procedures.

Key words: hospitalization, opinions of parents, opinions of nurses.