1. Creighton University College of Nursing
Pediatric Registered Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Care of Dying Patients when Palliative care Resources are not Available
Dana Overbaugh BSN, RN; Lindsay Barden BSN, RN; Megan Spreacker BSN, RN
Creighton University College of Nursing
Study Purpose
Non experimental descriptive design
A survey monkey was utilized surveying pediatric nurses in a Midwest urban children’s hospital without a pediatric palliative care program.
The FATCOD survey was utilized to assess nurses attitudes.
IRB consent obtained
Methods
Data Analysis
21 participants
52% between ages 26-35
Approximately 33% have between 0-2 years experience or > 10 years experience
61.9% had no experience working with a palliative care team
Describe acute care pediatric registered nurses’ attitudes toward caring for terminally ill children in a hospital where no pediatric palliative care program is available.
Problem and Significance
Limitations
Small convenient sample (n=21)
Limited data collection time
All female sample
Palliative care programs remain unavailable in many pediatric facilities.
Lack of palliative care programs and education can cause moral distress among providers.
Inability to provide pediatric specific services can cause distress to providers caring for patients without access to needed resources.
Inclusion Criteria
Registered Nurse
18 years or older
English Speaking
Currently employed full or part time
Implications For Future Practice
Evaluate moral distress along with attitudes
Evaluate private vs academic institutions
Evaluate a larger, more diverse sample
Study Results
Educating families about death and dying is not a nursing responsibility.
Families need emotional support to accept the behavior changes of the dying person.
Dying persons should be given honest answers about their condition.
Faculty Advisor: Meghan Potthoff MSN, APRN-NP