Providing care for a terminally ill child

Family-centred care

One of the major approaches when caring for a very sick child is the promotion of family-centred care. It is not only the needs of the child but also those of the whole family that have to be addressed, including those of any siblings. There is often a multidisciplinary team involved in the care of terminally ill children, providing all aspects of medical, nursing and psychological care to the family. It is important to work as a team and to coordinate and share all the treatment and care that the child and family receive. It is recognised that supporting a family during this time can be very stressful for the staff involved and it is often the nurse who plays a key role in helping the family and child prepare emotionally for the child’s forthcoming death (Costello and Trinder-Brook, 2000). Brykczynska (1992) recognises that the nurse has a