End-of-life care for children and adolescents

OBJECTIVES: To describe the complexities in end-of-life care of children and adolescents dying cancer-related deaths. DATA SOURCES: Research studies, review articles, and government reports. CONCLUSION: The complexities in providing competent and compassionate care to the dying child and the family is intense, undeniable, and may in some clinical situations be unavoidable. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: It is important for all those involved with the care at the end of life for a child or adolescent dying a cancer-related death create the framework that will support the provision of competent and compassionate end-of-life care.