Simulated learning for staff at a children’s hospice: a quality improvement project
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Simulated learning for staff at a children’s hospice: a quality improvement project

Sally Richardson Associate professor in simulated learning and clinical skills, School of Nursing, Kingston University, London, England
Jayne Price Professor of children’s nursing, Kingston University, London, England
Rebecca Whiting Practice education facilitator, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, Guildford, England
Geraldine Sheedy Head of hospice services, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, Guildford, England
Anna Chadwick Registrar in paediatric palliative care, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To understand how simulation can create a safe environment conducive to deep and meaningful learning

  • To recognise the importance of enhancing the communication and clinical skills of children’s hospice staff

  • To learn about a quality improvement project conducted to test simulated learning at a children’s hospice

Simulated learning has well known positive effects but its use in palliative care education is limited. A quality improvement project was undertaken at a children’s hospice to develop and evaluate simulation workshops. The aim was to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of nurses and healthcare assistants in managing challenging situations commonly experienced when caring for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) model for improvement was used to test simulation workshops on a small scale using a post-workshop questionnaire and reflective diaries. Despite some initial anxiety, participants felt that the workshop had enhanced their confidence, knowledge and skills, particularly in relation to conducting challenging conversations. The project has provided insight and evidence to develop simulated learning at the children’s hospice and further afield.

Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2023.e1489

Peer review

This article has been subject to open peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

@profjayneprice

Correspondence

j.e.price@kingston.ac.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Richardson S, Price J, Whiting R et al (2023) Simulated learning for staff at a children’s hospice: a quality improvement project. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2023.e1489

Acknowledgement

The authors thank the Burdett Trust for Nursing for funding this quality improvement project, including the purchase of a high-fidelity full-body child simulator

Published online: 18 September 2023

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