title: Spiritual development and the dying child: the pediatric nurse practitioner's role.
abstract: Dying children require special consideration when it comes to spiritual development. Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) can be a pivotal influence in the manner in which a child progresses from sick child to dying child and an influence on the family at large during the process. The primary care PNP is uniquely positioned to have a premorbid knowledge of the spiritual development and needs of the child and family. The tertiary care PNP has a responsibility to provide continuing spiritual assessment and follow-up with referrals to appropriate professional staff and community resources for spiritual care. Childhood spiritual development within the context of the PNP's role in assessing and meeting the spiritual needs of the dying child is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Office, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA. heilferty@chop.edu
authors.forename: Catherine McGeehin
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Heilferty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007255:Information Services; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010327:Pastoral Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D029181:Spirituality; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology