The network of regional Palliative Care Education Hubs, which is being developed (with the support of O²PZ), bridges the gap between national and regional activities related to palliative care education. Ambassador Mara van Stiphout tells more about Education Hub for Palliative Care for Children.

The Education Hub for Palliative Care for Children has a special position: it is the only Education Hub that operates nationwide, in contrast to the regional Education Hubs. It is connected to the Knowledge Center for Pediatric Palliative Care , where Ambassador Mara van Stiphout was already busy with education as a policy officer before she joined O ² PZ: it was a logical step for me to join O ² PZ as an ambassador.'

Gripping care

Van Stiphout studied (medical) anthropology and care ethics. A combination, she says, that fits in very nicely with an ethically sensitive subject such as pediatric palliative care. Care that sometimes prefers not to be talked about, even by professionals, because it is so poignant. 'That is precisely why it is so wonderful to be able to contribute to the best possible health care as a healthcare provider guidance of the child and those close to it,' she says. 'But then you have to have the in-house knowledge for that.'

From the Knowledge Center, Van Stiphout has already worked with trainers in higher education, by providing guest lectures with experts by experience, pediatric nurses, grief and loss counselors and other healthcare professionals. 'The lessons with experts by experience have a huge impact on the students,' she says. 'Then they can ask anything and they learn what the experience experts, ie the parents, have experienced. Through the stories of the parents, the link between theory and practice becomes much clearer and the material sticks much better. Until recently, we mainly did this for (post) HBO courses and specialized courses such as Pediatric Nursing. With O ² PZ we have also been able to take the step to MBO. Together with the ambassadors of the other Education Hubs, we were able to open the door and we are now also giving guest lectures there. A very nice milestone.'

'It still happens that care programs do not see the urgency of pediatric palliative care'

Successful teaching module

Van Stiphout: 'Another highlight is our collaboration with The Hague University of Applied Sciences, for which we have developed an educational module with tutorials and practical assignments, which we are offering for the third time this year in the Pedagogy programme. We are now in talks with Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences to set up something similar there, but with the social and social programs. We notice that the time is ripe for a shift from medical care to also include the four other areas of pediatric palliative care. We therefore no longer focus only on care provision, but also on the psychosocial, pedagogical and spiritual aspects. Just think of the teacher who has an incurably ill child in their class or a child whose brother or sister is no longer getting better. How do you deal with this as a teacher? We also tailor education for them.'

Although it all seems to run smoothly, Van Stiphout also encounters obstacles. "Sure," she says. 'We are very dependent on the enthusiasm of the teachers and education coordinators. And they in turn depend on management and directors who determine whether there is time and money for it. Fortunately, we meet many enthusiastic educators, but it still happens that the urgency of the subject is not seen. We have to work even harder at those institutions. But we have been able to establish that once we are inside, we can guarantee this properly. They always like to see us come back because of the positive feedback from the students.'

'The Pediatric Palliative Care Education Hub is growing steadily and they know where to find us better and better'

Next to the curriculum

The biggest challenge is and remains to find an opening in the curriculum. 'We usually get the message that the curriculum is already packed', says Van Stiphout. 'Then we try to set up something in addition to the curriculum. For example, together with the Van Praag Institute and the Netherlands Child Cancer Association, we have developed a web lecture Complementary care . And together with Carend, we are organizing four webinars on pediatric palliative care in September and October, which healthcare professionals and students can follow in the evening. The Pediatric Palliative Care Education Hub is therefore growing steadily and they know how to find us more and more. In this way, every day we take another step towards our ultimate goal: putting pediatric palliative care on the education map.'

Author: Kirsten Karmiggelt
Image: Shutterstock

Would you like to be kept informed about the activities of the Education Hub for Palliative Care for Children? Contact Mara van Stiphout.

The Network of Regional Education Hubs for Palliative Care has the slogan 'It happens regionally, we come together nationally'. The Education Hubs are the spider in the web of palliative care education. They form a connecting link between research and practice. There are eight Palliative Care Education Hubs throughout the Netherlands, each of which serves its own region. The ambassadors of these Education Hubs talk about the challenges they encounter and the successes they are proud of.

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