University of Santo Tomas College of Nursing

ABSTRACT

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End-of-life care is an emerging nursing specialty and is developing a dedicated spot in the field of pediatrics. In the past, most end-of-life care programs have focused on the adult population. Pediatric end-of-life care has become a topic of increasing study and discussion in the health care area. However, little is known about the lived experiences of Pediatric nurses caring for terminally ill children. This study aims to explore about the lived experiences of Pediatric nurses who are involved in end-of-life care. An unstructured interview was used in gathering experiences from 12 Filipino Pediatric nurses, who have at least 2 years working with terminally ill children. The statements from the interview were then grouped into clusters, from where the themes emerged. The themes formed were the following: a.) Entering the Childs World, b.) Engaging with the Family and c.) Establishing Resilience. The Gates of Heaven Phenomenon was then formed from these three themes.

Key Words: Pediatric Nurses, End-of-Life Care, Palliative Care, Pediatrics, Terminally Ill Children