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Can the death of a child be good?

Susan Bush Welch1

  • 1School of Nursing, Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USA. welchs@marshall.edu

Journal of Pediatric Nursing
|March 15, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Annually, 54,000 children die, highlighting the need for better pediatric palliative and end-of-life care. Analyzing the concept of a "good death" can guide nurses in providing evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care for dying children and their families.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nursing
  • Palliative Care
  • End-of-Life Care

Background:

  • Despite medical advances, 54,000 children die annually from acute and chronic illnesses.
  • There is a growing demand for enhanced palliative and end-of-life care services for pediatric patients.
  • The concept of a "good death," widely discussed in adult hospice care, requires specific consideration in pediatrics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the concept of a "good death" within the context of pediatric care.
  • To provide a framework for pediatric nurses to understand and implement end-of-life care.
  • To facilitate collaboration between clinical and research nursing to develop evidence-based care.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of "good death" in pediatric end-of-life care.
  • Literature review on adult hospice and pediatric palliative care concepts.
  • Framework development for nursing practice and research.

Main Results:

  • The concept of a "good death" for children needs adaptation from adult models.
  • A framework is proposed to guide nurses in understanding and applying "good death" principles.
  • Emphasis on evidence-based, developmentally appropriate care is crucial.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding "good death" is essential for pediatric nurses caring for dying children.
  • A collaborative approach between clinical practice and research can improve pediatric end-of-life care.
  • Further development and implementation of this framework are recommended to enhance care quality.

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