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End-of-life care in paediatrics

22 October 2020

Clinical

02 October 2020

Volume 29 · Issue 19

ISSN (print): 0966-0461

ISSN (online): 2052-2819

This article aims to provide information on end-of-life care (EoLC) in paediatrics, including the signs that death is imminent, how to manage the care of a dying child or young person and support their family, and how to care for the patient after death.

Research suggests that caring for a child or young person at the end of their life is one of the most emotionally challenging and traumatic experiences in practice (Maunder, 2006). This role can instil ‘tremendous anxiety’ in health professionals caring for a child or young person in these circumstances (Together for Short Lives (TFSL), 2017). McCourt et al's (2013) study into nurses’ experiences of providing EoLC in acute hospital settings, found that a lack of education and knowledge on EoLC, including symptom management and identifying when death was imminent, was one of the key factors identified as a barrier in managing the end of life. This article aims to provide a point of reference for nurses, to help increase confidence when providing EoLC for a child or young person.

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