The impact of simulation based education on nursing confidence, knowledge and patient outcomes on general medicine units.

The ability to quickly and reliably detect a clinically deteriorating patient and intervene appropriately is a skill nurses are expected to bring into practice. Simulation education has been shown to improve nurses' knowledge, confidence and communication, especially when focused on deteriorating patients. In a simulation center at a large tertiary level Canadian teaching hospital, a 4 h simulation based education session was developed for general medicine nursing staff.

Families' transition to a Canadian paediatric hospice. Part two: results of a pilot study.

The results from a pilot study are reported in this article, part two of a two-part paper. The experiences of parents (six mothers and two fathers) are described as their families transitioned to the Canuck Place Children's Hospice (CPHC) in Canada. The perspectives of non-hospice health care professionals (n=4) involved in the child's care are explored.

Families' transition to a Canadian paediatric hospice. Part one: planning a pilot study.

This article describes the rationale for planning and conducting a qualitative pilot study about families' transition to a Canadian paediatric hospice. Discussion includes: background information and a literature review pertinent to the study; debate around the term 'hospice' versus 'palliative care'; the different and unique needs of children requiring a palliative approach compared with adult hospice patients; and information about planning and beginning the study, including the rationale for a pilot, details about the study site, recruitment and procedures, and data collection and analysis. The results from the pilot study, as well as implications for practice and research are reported in part two.