Palliative Care Education for Pediatric Nurses
Palliative Care Education for Pediatric Nurses
Of all the various healthcare professionals that provide care to children and their families facing life's end, no one spends more time at the bedside observing, critically thinking, consulting, and providing direct care than the pediatric nurse. Previous research, however, demonstrates that undergraduate education has not prepared nurses to provide optimum end-of-life (EOL) care (Ferrell, Grant, & Virani, 1999; Ferrell, Virani, & Grant, 1999). Although many reasons have been cited in the literature for this inadequacy, the fact remains that when nurses complete their basic education and enter practice, they often are grossly unprepared to care for children and families in need of end-of-life care (Field & Behrman, 2003).
The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-Pediatric Palliative Care (ELNEC-PPC) Project, has, to date, reached over 400 pediatric nurses through three national training programs. These nurses have returned to their own institution to teach the ELNEC-PPC curriculum to their colleagues, so they will be equipped to promote excellent palliative/EOL care in their own clinical settings.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Of all the various healthcare professionals that provide care to children and their families facing life's end, no one spends more time at the bedside observing, critically thinking, consulting, and providing direct care than the pediatric nurse. Previous research, however, demonstrates that undergraduate education has not prepared nurses to provide optimum end-of-life (EOL) care (Ferrell, Grant, & Virani, 1999; Ferrell, Virani, & Grant, 1999). Although many reasons have been cited in the literature for this inadequacy, the fact remains that when nurses complete their basic education and enter practice, they often are grossly unprepared to care for children and families in need of end-of-life care (Field & Behrman, 2003).
Introduction
The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium-Pediatric Palliative Care (ELNEC-PPC) Project, has, to date, reached over 400 pediatric nurses through three national training programs. These nurses have returned to their own institution to teach the ELNEC-PPC curriculum to their colleagues, so they will be equipped to promote excellent palliative/EOL care in their own clinical settings.
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