O Brien Irene, Duffy Anita
Our Lady's Children Hospital, Dublin.
Br J Nurs. 2010;19(15):977-81. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2010.19.15.77694.
This article addresses some of the contemporary issues in relation to providing palliative care for children in Ireland, particularly focusing on the creation of the specialist palliative care nursing outreach posts. The recent publication of an Irish national policy on palliative care for children with life-limiting illness is welcome news for paediatric nurses in Ireland. Children are valued members of society and have a right to receive quality health care and support appropriate to meet both children and the families' precise needs. However, community services for children with life-limiting illnesses remain inadequate, with many parents and families struggling to provide palliative care for children in the home. Currently, community nurses, who are not always registered children's nurses, are providing palliative care for children at the end of life. These nurses may not fully understand the specific needs of critically or chronically ill children and their families. In addition, there are no specific palliative care educational programmes in Ireland with regard to end-of-life care for children. The challenges of providing palliative care to children and their families in relation to symptom control, controversial ethical and legal issues, and emotional and practical support, mean that advanced knowledge is required in order to progress the agenda and thus provide excellence in children's palliative care in Ireland. It is important that the agenda is moved forward so that children and their families requiring palliative care and nursing support do not suffer from a lack of professional provision for their needs.
本文探讨了爱尔兰为儿童提供姑息治疗方面的一些当代问题，尤其着重于设立专科姑息治疗护理外展岗位。爱尔兰近期发布的一项针对患有危及生命疾病儿童的姑息治疗国家政策，对爱尔兰的儿科护士来说是个好消息。儿童是社会的重要成员，有权获得优质医疗保健以及适合满足儿童及其家庭确切需求的支持。然而，为患有危及生命疾病儿童提供的社区服务仍然不足，许多家长和家庭难以在家中为儿童提供姑息治疗。目前，社区护士（他们并不总是注册儿童护士）在为临终儿童提供姑息治疗。这些护士可能并不完全了解危重症或慢性病儿童及其家庭的特殊需求。此外，爱尔兰没有针对儿童临终关怀的特定姑息治疗教育项目。在为儿童及其家庭提供姑息治疗时，在症状控制、有争议的伦理和法律问题以及情感和实际支持方面面临的挑战，意味着需要先进的知识来推进这一议程，从而在爱尔兰提供卓越的儿童姑息治疗。推进这一议程很重要，这样需要姑息治疗和护理支持的儿童及其家庭就不会因专业服务无法满足其需求而受苦。
