Preparing for the Ethical Challenges in Children's Nursing

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Debate the public and professional perception and meaning of palliative and end of life care for children, young people and their families considering how this influences policy for health and social care
• Explore the role of the children’s nurse in planning and managing holistic family centered care for children and young people who have life limiting or life-threatening conditions
• Discuss and debate the nature of ethical challenges and conflicts that may arise in children’s nursing
• Appraise the evidence of the psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs of people towards the end of their life and how nurses may respond to needs and preferences
• Debate strategies that may be used to coordinate the care of children and young people across different settings

Ethical and Legal Frameworks in Children’s Nursing: In this theme students will explore how ethical, professional and legal issues underpin children’s nursing practice. They will consider a variety of issues such as accountability, acting in best interests and non-maleficence considering ethical dilemmas in children's nursing. Students will also consider the complexities around information sharing, confidentiality and consent when caring for children and young people. Role of the Children’s Nurse: In this theme students will consider how children's nurses can work in partnership with children, young people and their families/ carers. They will consider how they effectively communicate with children, young people and their families taking into consideration factors such as age, developmental stage, those that are non-verbal or who have learning disabilities, those where English is not their first language, those that are visually or hearing impaired. They will also consider the importance of effective communication with the nursing team as well as the wider multidisciplinary team. Students will also consider strategies that can be used to coordinate care across the care settings and explore the challenges that can occur. They will consider conflict management and resolution in difficult situations. This will build on their knowledge gained in previous modules and their experiences whilst out on placement. Gender Identity and Sexuality: In this theme students will consider the pressure and challenges young people can experience around sexuality and gender identity. This could include the pressures of coming out, the pressures they face from family, friends and in school as well as the pressure to choose a label. Students will consider how these pressures and challenges affect young people’s health and well-being as they manage self-acceptance. Students will also consider the challenges these young people face when interacting with health care professionals or when receiving health care and how the children's nurse can support and work in partnership with young people. End of Life and Palliative Care: Students will be introduced to the fundamental principles of palliative and end of life care. This will include consideration of some of the key terminology, definitions and policy underpinnings of palliative and end of life care and some of the inequalities that exist and challenges that can arise. Students will consider end of life care and palliative care for children and young people with life threatening illnesses or injuries, those with long term conditions, those with degenerative and life limiting conditions. Students will also be introduced to the importance of integrated care and shared decision making in meeting children, young people and their family's needs at the end of life in all contexts including acute care, community and hospice settings. In depth knowledge and understanding pf how to assess and plan care for children and young people receiving palliative and end of life care. This will include assessment and symptom management, including pain management, alongside other commonly experienced and distressing symptoms in those receiving palliative and end of life care. Students will consider the individual needs of children and young people receiving palliative and end of life care and discuss the role of the nurse in supporting their psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs. Supporting Families/Carers: Students will explore concepts such as loss, grief, and bereavement and how to support families and carers identifying appropriate support services. Students will explore the importance of psychosocial support for families, including siblings, and their carers. The role of the nurse in partnership working and including those most important to individuals will be explored. They will also learn the approaches that are necessary to ensure that all bereaved people are supported with compassionate care. In addition, students will also be provided with the tools they need to support themselves and those they work with.

This module will be taught using a variety of learning and teaching approaches including: • Lectures • Seminars • Guided independent study

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Written plan

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment:
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.