Objective: Reflect on the evolution of pediatric nursing care from the perspective of emotions, from the conceptions of Florence Nightingale to the present. Method: Reflective study based on theoretical and experiential aspects of emotional care in pediatric nursing. Results: From Nightingale, there were many definitions regarding the nursing care in an integrative and humanist logic; and with certain bond to emotional dimension. That time, nursing care was based on the religious conceptions of charity and love of our neighbor and, despite the conceptualization that shapes nursing science today, such conceptions have not ceased to be its attribute, mainly in the care of pediatric nurses. Final considerations: In pediatric nursing, nurture care with affection and facilitate emotions management in each interaction nurse-child-family is crucial for caring. This emotional care should evolve into a competence that recognizes the expertise and merit of professional action.

Objective: To analyze nurses’ experiences in the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the performance of emotional labor (EL), aiming at its characterization and identification of support strategies and development opportunities of nurses and practices. Methods: Qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study, with content analysis of eleven written narratives and reports from a focus group composed of nurses with experience in caring for patients with COVID-19 from different Hospital Centers in Lisbon, Portugal. Results: Five themes were extracted: 1) Challenges experienced by nurses in the frontline; 2) Emotions experienced by nurses in service care; 3) Emotional responses of nurses and patients: impact on care; 4) EL of nurses in the patient care process; 5) Opportunities for development in the face of the emotional challenge required of nurses in combating COVID-19. Final considerations: The nurses demonstrated the ability to transform this profoundly emotional experience positively.

Objective: To discuss the emotional labor in pediatric nursing considering the repercussions of COVID-19 in childhood and adolescence. Method: Reflexion based on theoretical aspects and scientific evidence of emotional labor in pediatric nursing. Results: Given the repercussions of COVID-19 on children and adolescents, it is up to the nurse to recognize them and nurture a non-traumatic and affectionate care. However, measures to control the disease affect the care provided. In this context, emotional labor process become essential, as they guide the management of the child's and family's emotions, associated with the suffering caused by the pandemic and the nurse's emotional experience when caring. Conclusion: Emotional support and care processes are essential in pediatrics, especially in a stressful time such as a pandemic, which requires the positive transformation of the intense and disturbing experiences of people for them to achieve psychosocial well-being.

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic e to explore adolescents’ perception of emotional and behavioral problems identified. Method: mixed-method explanatory sequential design. Participants were 479 adolescents aged 15 to 18 from a Brazilian Central-West region capital. Results: with a total of 479 participants, mean age was 16.03 years (SD=1.01). The prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems was 61.17%, and there was a difference between the sexes (ORb=2.93; p<0.01). The highest prevalence was related to peer relationship problems (54.49%) and emotional symptoms (52.40%). Adolescents noticed an increase in loneliness, anxiety, sadness, distancing from friends and difficulties in socializing during the pandemic. Conclusion: most of the investigated adolescents were classified as having emotional and behavioral problems, and girls were more likely to have them than boys. The adolescents’ statements reinforce the quantitative findings. In this way, there is a need to implement actions to promote and restore the adolescents’ mental health, in order to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic socio-emotional impact on this population.