introductory palliative care education and tools offered to nurses in a pediatric intensive care unit, using an interactive eLearning module

1. INTRODUCTORY PALLIATIVE CARE EDUCATION FOR PEDIATRIC
INTENSIVE CARE NURSES
Rebecca Case R.N. BSN
UC Davis Children’s Hospital
Graduate Student Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing
Rebecca.case@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu
Abstract
Introductory palliative care education and resource tools for nurses in a pediatric intensive care
unit
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the design of an educational program/tool that will
provide an introduction of palliative care concepts and practices to the nurses working within the
UC Davis Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Rationale
The U.C. Davis Children’s Hospital is in the beginning stages of developing a pediatric palliative
care program. At the forefront of this project is the need to provide, palliative care education to
staff members who participate in patient care. There are many avenues of excellent educational
programs already established such as the AACN’s ELNEC course. While these educational
offerings are valuable, and comprehensive they require a 2 day attendance that will not be a
feasible opportunity for most of these nurses before program implementation. Introductory
concepts can be offered as a bedside learning tool that can be completed during working hours.
Background
Palliative care is a philosophy of care evolving from hospice that can meet the gaps in the care for
seriously ill and dying patients. Palliative care for children seeks to enhance the quality of life in
the face of a life threatening condition that may or may not progress to a cure. Psychological,
social spiritual and cultural issues need to be addressed in palliative. These causes of death are
substantially different from the causes of death in adults; thus, palliative care guidelines that are
appropriate for adults are often inappropriate for children
Methods
A colorful “flipbook” and a self-paced eLearning lecture have been developed and reviewed by
the hospitals palliative care committee. It is to be offered to the PICU staff through their shared
governance committee as a tool to introduce the staff to the upcoming hospital palliative care
program and the practice changes associated with palliative care.
Outcomes
Both committee members and staff will have opportunity to evaluate the flipbook and
presentation for ease of use, helpfulness and effectiveness in learning palliative care
fundamentals.
Anticipated benefits of introductory palliative care education at the bedside:
To provide the nurses a learning opportunity in an informal manner and setting that will
encourage participation and provide staff nurses with key core concepts that will provide
participation in practice changes as the palliative care program is started.
To promote further education interest in palliative care practices by Attending ELNEC and other
formalized palliative care educational offerings.
To expand the use of eLearning module courses by nurses for successful professional
development education.
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