Caring for Dying Children: Assessing the Needs of the Pediatric

Sumner (2006) used a chil-dren’s book to poignantlydescribe the life cycle ofnature: There are lots of living things in our world. Each one has its special lifetime. All around us, everywhere, be-ginnings and endings are going on around us all the time. So, no matter how long they are, or how short, life-times are really all the same. They have beginnings and endings, and there is living in between (p. 909). When a child dies, this cycle seems unnatural. Suddenly, human potential is lost, and dreams quickly become shattered. Parents, siblings, and health care providers are left to grieve the loss of the child. This dilemma has encouraged many nursing leaders to explore methods of research and evi-dence-based practice to promote bet-ter outcomes for everyone involved in the palliative process. Pediatric palliative care has become a topic of increasing study and discussion in the health care arena. In the past, most palliative care programs have focused on the adult population. Research has shown that pediatric palliative care programs and education are needed (Contro, Larson, Scofield, Sourkes, & Cohen