Advanced Concepts in Easing Suffering and Promoting Healing for Pediatric Patients

This 4.5 CE hour self-paced online course focuses on some of the most difficult emotional and spiritual aspects of caring for young patients at the end of life. It covers topics such as transference and countertransference, trauma-informed care, types of grief, caring for diverse families, and empowering patients and families in end-of-life decision making.

The worsening serious illness or approaching death of a child, teen, or young adult can bring deep existential and spiritual distress that may extend to the entire family, as well as the healthcare team. Addressing this type of suffering takes specialized awareness, knowledge, and support.  

This course delivers the skills and strategies needed to address the personal impact that the loss of young patients has on hospice and palliative care practitioners, the challenges and conflicts that can arise when family members process grief in different ways, and how to support families in decision making as a child’s illness worsens.

This course comprises four modules that focus on strategies for reducing the existential and spiritual suffering of young patients with life-limiting illness and their families, while supporting the well-being and resiliency of hospice and palliative care professionals.

Buy the certificate for $989. Learn more.

What You’ll Learn

Working within the context of ongoing suffering (transference and countertransference)

• Employing self-evaluation and self-awareness regarding the effects of personal loss to ensure appropriate and effective support to those who are suffering
• Reconciling differences of opinion within families and the impact on grief
• Completing a family assessment to determine whether family members have unique needs that require additional support
• Supporting patient and family empowerment

What You’ll Earn

4.5 continuing education (CE) credits provided through California State University San Marcos, accredited and approved by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

Strategic Partners

The Institute’s Pediatric Palliative Care curriculum was developed by expert clinicians in pediatric palliative care from leading children’s hospitals and hospice programs, with support from:

• Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition/Coalition for Compassionate Care of California
• Providence TrinityCare Hospice and Trinity KidsCare

Course Author

Susan Montgomery, RN, BSN, MA, a medical writer whose clinical career as a registered nurse included caring for children and adults in both critical care and hospice. She is the former Director of Interdisciplinary Practice at Suncoast Hospice.

Course Reviewers

Rev. Kathleen Ennis-Durstine, MDiv, BCC, Senior Chaplain/Manager, Children’s National Health System, and faculty member of the Pediatric Chaplains Institute.

Rev. Mark Bartel, MDiv, BCC, Chaplain Manager, Spiritual Care, Arnold Palmer Medical Center, Orlando Health, and faculty member of the Pediatric Chaplains Institute.

Completion and Refunds

In order to complete this course and obtain a certificate, you must view the course in its entirety, correctly answer all case studies and quiz/test questions (as appropriate) and complete the evaluation. You will have 90 days to access this course from the date of purchase. No refunds are given for self-paced courses.