Spirituality and Pediatric End-of-Life Care
Location
CSU 253/4/5
Start Date
5-4-2010 1:00 PM
End Date
5-4-2010 3:00 PM
Student's Major
School of Nursing
Student's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Mentor's Name
Jean Humphries
Mentor's Department
School of Nursing
Mentor's College
Allied Health and Nursing
Description
The purpose of this literature review was to determine the state of the science on the role of spirituality for families during the loss of a child. The literature review was conducted by using a collection of online research databases including the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline/PubMed and EbscoHOST. Keywords used to direct the search included: spirituality, end-of-life, pediatrics, and palliative care. Eleven articles were analyzed and synthesized. Findings from the review of literature concluded that the death of a child is a very challenging time for families and that spirituality plays a vital role in the bereavement process for many. In addition, nurses as a whole are a very spiritual population. However, the profession appears to lack a comprehensive approach to providing spiritual care to pediatric patients and their families at the end-of-life. Due to the fact that spirituality is so important to holistic care, the science of nursing demands further research on its impact in health care provision. More research is especially needed on diverse populations and specifics to the end-of-life process. The future of nursing would also benefit from professional education about pediatric end-of-life care, spirituality and its incorporation into practice for nursing staff.
Spirituality and Pediatric End-of-Life Care
CSU 253/4/5
The purpose of this literature review was to determine the state of the science on the role of spirituality for families during the loss of a child. The literature review was conducted by using a collection of online research databases including the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline/PubMed and EbscoHOST. Keywords used to direct the search included: spirituality, end-of-life, pediatrics, and palliative care. Eleven articles were analyzed and synthesized. Findings from the review of literature concluded that the death of a child is a very challenging time for families and that spirituality plays a vital role in the bereavement process for many. In addition, nurses as a whole are a very spiritual population. However, the profession appears to lack a comprehensive approach to providing spiritual care to pediatric patients and their families at the end-of-life. Due to the fact that spirituality is so important to holistic care, the science of nursing demands further research on its impact in health care provision. More research is especially needed on diverse populations and specifics to the end-of-life process. The future of nursing would also benefit from professional education about pediatric end-of-life care, spirituality and its incorporation into practice for nursing staff.
Recommended Citation
Rother, Janet Elizabeth. "Spirituality and Pediatric End-of-Life Care." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 5, 2010.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2010/poster-session-B/10
