A new book by York University nursing Professor Rose Steele lays out a roadmap for healthcare providers interested in optimizing care for seriously ill children and their families.
The just-published book on pediatric palliative care was written with co-authors Betty Davies, adjunct professor in the School of Nursing, University of Victoria, B.C., and Jennifer Baird, director of Clinical Services Education and Research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Grounded in clinical practice and the study of positive rather than problematic encounters between providers and parents, Pediatric Palliative Care: A Model for Exemplary Practice presents an evidence-based model of exemplary interaction. Chapters offer a clear understanding of the complex, holistic process of interaction between providers and parents, as well as the personal and professional knowledge and skills needed to interact in optimal ways.
This is a one-of-a-kind guidebook for healthcare providers interested in (re)discovering how to maximize positive outcomes for both families and providers. It’s also a valuable source of inspiration for educators, supervisors, and hospital administrators who want to facilitate personal and professional development and create supportive environments for students, providers, seriously ill children, and their families.
Though the research study was carried out in pediatric oncology, neonatal intensive care, and hospice, the authors report that the metaphor they use and the model itself ring true for people who are involved in professional interaction across disciplines and with any age group.
The book, says Steele, highlights research that is truly translated into practice and shows that research findings can be presented in innovative ways that are more meaningful and useful to non-academics.