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Introduction of palliative care for children in secondary vocational education

MBO care professionals have an important role in the quality of life for seriously ill children. In March 2022, the Knowledge Center gave a guest lecture on pediatric palliative care in secondary vocational education (MBO) for the first time.


MBO care professionals play an important role in the quality of life for seriously ill children. We are therefore pleased that in March 2022, the Knowledge Center for Palliative Care for Children gave a guest lesson on children's palliative care in secondary vocational education (MBO) for the first time. A true first for MBO Amersfoort, where more than fifty students from the Nursing and Social Care study programs took part in the lesson on pediatric palliative care during the 'Care & Welfare' theme week.

“Palliative care is very important in the curriculum”

Last year, Rianne Roedema (social relations teacher and study career coach) and Lonneke Oordt (nursing/healthcare teacher) from MBO Amersfoort responded enthusiastically to our offer via the network of O2PZ (Optimizing Education Palliative Care) to provide a guest lecture on pediatric palliative care. Together we set to work to give further form and content to this education for MBO students from various study programmes. “Palliative care is very important in the curriculum”, according to teacher Lonneke . “ It is of course a specific group, but it is a wonderful addition to our basic lesson on palliative care.”

Content of the guest lecture

The following topics were covered:

  • What is pediatric palliative care and how does it differ from adult palliative care?
  • How is pediatric palliative care organized in the Netherlands?
  • What impact does palliative care have on the seriously ill child and the family?
  • What specific care and support needs might critically ill children and their families have in the palliative and/or terminal phase?
  • In what ways can you communicate with a seriously ill child and his/her parents and any brother(s) and/or sister(s) about grief and loss?

“It fits in perfectly with secondary vocational education”

It was a valuable guest lesson where theory was discussed, students gained insight into a palliative (home) trajectory, and practical tips and guidelines were provided. Lecturer Rianne about the guest lesson: “Because of the alternation of theory and experience stories, it fits in perfectly with MBO education. You kept it low-threshold and informal, so the students asked a lot of questions”.

Enthusiastic students

The reactions from students were also very positive:

“Very instructive lesson. A very nice case and clear explanation about pediatric palliative care. I can take this with me in my position as a nurse”

“It is wonderful and instructive to know that there are still so many possibilities in pediatric palliative care”

“Nice to learn more about palliative care for children”

Continuation in Apeldoorn

On April 1, a guest lesson will be given at ROC Aventus in Apeldoorn for students of the Nursing course. Do you also want to include pediatric palliative care in your school's curriculum? Please contact our training coordinator (higher) vocational education Marjolein Koot for the possibilities via m.koot@kinderpalliatief.nl .


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