Self-indulgent nurses like mischievous children (5)
I believe the answer is:
elfin
'self-indulgent nurses like mischievous children' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'self-indulgent nurses' is the wordplay.
'nurses' says the answer is hidden in the clue (nurse can mean holding closely).
'ELFIN' is hidden in the letters of 'self indulgent'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for elfin that I've seen before include "Sprightly" , "Small and fragile" , "Small, delicately-framed" , "Small, with delicate frame" , "Spritely" .)