Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026
06:38
Use of a Piglet Model for the Study of Anesthetic-induced Developmental Neurotoxicity (AIDN): A Translational Neuroscience Approach
Published on: June 11, 2017
Children's concepts of death. Implications for pediatric practice
The Nursing Clinics of North America
|June 1, 1984
Insights
Children
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Thanatology
Background:
- Understanding children's cognitive development is crucial for addressing their psychological needs.
- The concept of death evolves significantly throughout childhood.
- Hospitalized children face unique challenges related to their understanding of death.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the developmental stages of a child's concept of death.
- To explore the differences between adult and child perceptions of death.
- To provide practical nursing interventions for hospitalized children experiencing death-related fears.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on child development and the concept of death.
- Analysis of cognitive and emotional changes in children's understanding of mortality.
- Case illustrations of hospitalized children's perspectives.
Main Results:
- A child's perception of death is not static but develops through distinct stages.
- Children's understanding of death differs markedly from adult comprehension.
- Hospitalized children's fears surrounding death can be effectively managed with appropriate interventions.
Conclusions:
- Nurses play a vital role in supporting children's understanding of death.
- Developmentally appropriate interventions can alleviate pediatric death anxiety.
- Further research into pediatric thanatology can inform clinical practice.
Abstract:
This article has reviewed the developmental evolution of the concept of death in children. As has been illustrated, the child's perception of death is significantly different from that of adults and goes through several successive changes before the mature concept is grasped. Application has been demonstrated in reference to children who are hospitalized. Interventions that nurses can utilize to help children deal with their fears have been suggested.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...
01:21Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross significantly advanced psychology's understanding of the process of dying with her influential book, On Death and Dying (1969). She focused on studying terminally ill individuals and outlined five stages commonly experienced when coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...