What is it about?
Children with life-shortening conditions are living longer and often have increasingly complex care needs. This commentary discusses research exploring nurses’ knowledge of children's palliative care in a specialist children's hospital. The study found that nurses who had received palliative care education, had greater clinical experience, or had undertaken further study demonstrated higher levels of knowledge and confidence. The article reflects on the importance of education, experience and ongoing support in preparing nurses to care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
Featured Image
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Why is it important?
Many nurses receive limited education in children’s palliative care during their initial training, despite growing demand for these services worldwide. Misunderstandings about palliative care remain common, with some healthcare professionals continuing to associate palliative care solely with dying. These misconceptions can affect the confidence of practitioners and may delay access to valuable support for children and families. Improving education helps nurses understand the broader role of palliative care, communicate more effectively with families and provide care that is compassionate, timely and responsive to individual needs.
Perspectives
High-quality children's palliative care depends on a workforce that feels knowledgeable, confident and supported. This commentary highlights the importance of embedding palliative care education throughout undergraduate nursing programmes and continuing professional development. Alongside formal education, learning from experienced colleagues plays a vital role in developing expertise and confidence. As the number of children living with life-limiting conditions continues to increase, investment in education and workforce development will be essential to ensure that children and families receive the skilled, compassionate care they deserve.
Prof Michael J Tatterton
University of Bradford
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Positive impact of training and support on improving the proficiency of nurses providing palliative care to babies, children and young people in hospital, Evidence-Based Nursing, May 2025, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/ebnurs-2025-104301.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
