title: Experiences of hospice inpatient nurses in supporting children before the death of a parent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The need for pre-bereavement support for children facing the death of a parent is well recognised but how this is done by hospice ward nurses in practice is not well known.
  
  
  METHODS
  To explore the experiences of hospice ward nurses' identification of the support needs of children under 18 years old facing the death of a parent, and the impact on hospice nurses when involved in providing this support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured individual interviews with hospice nurses working on a single UK inpatient unit were audio-taped and analysed using thematic analysis to produce themes and subthemes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nurses were highly reflective, discussing their personal experiences, and identified potential enablers and barriers to providing support. Child and family factors were identified as influencing identification of support needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple factors influencing provision of support emerged. Formal training and readily available resources would support hospice nurses working with children.
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Palliative Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clipsham
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Fellow.
authors.forename: Zoebia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Palliative Medicine, both at LOROS Hospice Care for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Faull
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006117:Grief; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009736:Nursing Process; D010343:Patient Admission; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013222:State Medicine
keywords: Children's bereavement; Palliative care; Parent; Patient safety; Support