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Aim To examine the perspectives of children's nurses about parental presence during resuscitation. Methods Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from nine children's nurses, working in the same emergency department, followed by thematic analysis to identify common themes. Findings Nurses thought that parents had a negative effect on the ability of professionals caring for the child. However, they also recognised the negative effect parental absence can have on the grieving process. During resuscitation nurses struggle personally and professionally to decide whether parents should be present. Conclusion There is a lack of guidance available about how to manage parental presence at the resuscitation of the child. Experienced children's nurses were having to 'gauge it every time'. more...

Palliative care nursing practice can be enhanced if the clinical judgements made in applying palliative care philosophy to individual situations are critically examined and challenged. A model of reflection developed specifically for children's palliative care practice is illustrated here using a critical incident in which the parents of a child with complex disabilities were helped to reduce their caring role and accept increased support. As a result of the structured reflection, the importance of assessing for signs of stress in parents and the wider family was recognised. Additionally, the need for more research specific to the needs of families with more than one child with life-limiting illness was identified as a mechanism for improving the quality of care delivered. more...

Play, the universal language of children, is an important child-centred communication tool and is a necessity for a sick child. Play can help the child with cancer understand and prepare for the particular type of treatment they face and can also reduce distress and anxiety for the child's family. As more childhood cancer care moves away from the hospital setting and into the child's own home, service providers must develop the role of specialist play in the community. more...