Pediatric palliative care communication: resources for the clinical nurse specialist.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this article was to highlight the lack of communication skills pediatric practitioners have when delivering bad news and introducing pediatric palliative care to a family with a child with a life-limiting condition. Fortunately, innovative tools and guidelines have been appearing in recent literature, and the clinical nurse specialist has an opportunity to implement these communication tools by utilizing her core competencies.


BACKGROUND
Over 10 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization individually prepared definitions and mandates concerning the importance of pediatric palliative care. Approximately 450,000 children are currently living at home with chronic, life-limiting health conditions, many of whom are not receiving any palliative care services.


METHODS
Literature about practitioner communication practices and resources was reviewed.


RESULTS
Advances are being made in pediatric palliative research, guidelines, and clinical tools.


CONCLUSIONS
New advances are not being disseminated to the pediatric healthcare practitioner population, leaving practitioners with inadequate education and preparation for implementing pediatric palliative care.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical nurse specialist has the ability to cross through the spheres of influence by providing holistic care, implementing system changes, and by using a communication framework when working with palliative care patients and families.
School of Nursing/Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. amcneil6@jhmi.edu
Alison
A
Pirie
D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D014342:Truth Disclosure