Neonatal nursing is a specialised area of care. There are not large numbers of neonatal deaths each year, and only a few of these will be considered for palliative care. The literature has been emerging in this field in recent years, with recognition that palliative care does have a place in neonatal care. There may be some information here that will be helpful.

NB: 'Neonatal' is described as pertaining to the newborn period which, by convention, is the first four weeks after birth.

Resources

• Kain, Victoria J. (2008) Developing palliative care models in neonatal nursing : an investigation of barriers and parameters for practice. [QUT Thesis] 
• Fielding A, Haddow G, Wilson S and Fernandes C (2009) Parents’ and families’ experiences of care by health care professionals in the hospital setting following perinatal death: A systematic review Joanna Briggs Institute
• WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network: Paediatric and Adolescent Palliative Care Model of care. September 2009. Whilst written for paediatrics and adolescents, this document may have some relevant transferable information
• The General Medical Council in the UK has produced a guidance for doctors that includes relevant information: Treatment and Care Towards the End of Life – Good practice in decision-making.

Related CareSearch Pages

Nurses Hub
Paediatrics
Adoelscents and Young Adults (AYA)

Free Full Text Article

Kain V, Gardner G, Yates P. Neonatal palliative care attitude scale: development of an instrument to measure the barriers to and facilitators of palliative care in neonatal nursing. Pediatrics. 2009 Feb;123(2):e207-13.

Catlin A, Carter B. Creation of a neonatal end-of-life palliative care protocol. J Perinatol. 2002 Apr-May;22(3):184-95.

References

• De Lisle-Porter M, Podruchny AM. The dying neonate: family-centered end-of-life care. Neonatal Netw. 2009 Mar-Apr;28(2):75-83.
• Kain VJ. Palliative care delivery in the NICU: what barriers do neonatal nurses face? Neonatal Netw. 2006 Nov-Dec;25(6):387-92.
• Sumner LH, Kavanaugh K, Moro T. Extending palliative care into pregnancy and the immediate newborn period: state of the practice of perinatal palliative care. J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2006 Jan-Mar;20(1):113-6.

Last updated 27 August 2010