Our aim through the Global Palliative Nursing Network (GPNN) is to establish a worldwide network to provide peer support and professional development for all nurses working in palliative care – wherever they are.
Join the Global Palliative Nursing Network for FREE* and you will have access to all our learning events.
Please note that you only need to register once to hear about all the events.
Spotlight
The next spotlight is taking place Tuesday 20th October 2026.
Topic: From Recognition to Response: Delirium in End-of-Life Dementia Care
We’re delighted to invite you to our next Interdisciplinary Spotlight — putting a spotlight on a topic we all have a stake in.
Delirium is common in people living with dementia, particularly towards the end of life, yet recognising and responding to it can be challenging. We will hear from experts in the field as we explore how we can move from recognition to compassionate, person-centred response.
We will consider how to:
- Recognise and assess palliative and end-of-life needs, including signs that someone may be approaching the end of life.
- Differentiate delirium, dementia and other causes of deterioration.
- Respond compassionately to symptoms and distress.
- Communicate and make decisions together with people, families and carers, including advance care planning.
This will be an interdisciplinary conversation, bringing together different perspectives, experiences and approaches to caring for people with dementia at the end of life.
Dr Gillian Jackson is a Research Fellow in Palliative Care at Hull York Medical School. Her work focuses on improving care in palliative care and oncology, particularly the detection, assessment and management of delirium. With a background spanning Human Biology, Translational Oncology and Medical Sciences, her research combines mixed methods, co-design and implementation science to turn research into meaningful improvements in patient care. Alongside her research, Gillian is Module Lead for Implementation Science on the MSc Palliative Care programme and contributes to teaching across the programme/school.
Sarah Mitchell is a registered nurse with a background in palliative care and oncology. Having worked clinically in a variety of settings, Sarah has always been curious about how things could be done better. This curiosity has led to her first role in research (working on the DAMPen-Delirium II study) which aims to actively improve care for patients with delirium using implementation science.
We’d love you to join us and share your experience, questions and reflections.
May 2026 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Caring for a Person with Diabetes at the End of Life: A Palliative Care Approach
Our May spotlight was delivered as an interdisciplinary collaboration in conjunction with the Global Palliative Doctors Network.
This session brought together a panel of professionals with expertise in both palliative care and diabetes, offering a rich, multidisciplinary perspective on an important and often under-explored area of practice.
Using a case study to guide discussion, we explored:
- Practical challenges, including care at home versus hospital settings and considerations in low-resource environments
- The experience of living with diabetes as one faces end of life
- Why diabetes care at the end of life requires a distinct approach
- Goals of care: reframing conversations from tight control to comfort and quality of life
- The role of deprescribing: when and how to adapt treatment
January 2026 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Moral Injury in Nursing
Struggling with ethical tension in practice? You’re not alone.
This Spotlight explored frameworks, language, and support to navigate complex decisions in palliative care and beyond.
Following the success of our October Spotlight on Nurse Wellbeing in the Context of Assisted Dying, we’re expanding the conversation with a timely and globally relevant topic: Caring for the Nurse: Moral Injury and Meaning in Practice
Navigating ethical dilemmas in today’s palliative care landscape
This session explored:
- What moral injury means in nursing
- How it intersects with ethical decision-making
- A contemporary framework to support reflection and practice and build ethical confidence
- Its relevance across current clinical and global contexts
The spotlight featured:
Eunice Sirkett (UK), Lecturer in Nursing, School of Health and Medical Sciences, City St George’s, University of London
Prof Heather Richardson (UK) – a nurse leader known for her, reflective approach and commitment to values-based palliative care
Prof David Kenneth Wright (Canada) – a nurse ethicist who’s been diving deep into the realities of moral injury and what it means for nurses today
October 2025 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Maintaining wellbeing of the nurse in the face of assisted dying
There is a strong possibility that the law in the UK will change which will legalise an assisted death. This will represent a seismic change in the landscape of life, death and grief and has huge implications for organisations involved in health and palliative care, clinicians and others involved in the care of people who are dying and those close to them.
Many UK based nurses are already giving careful consideration to how they manage the changing demands that such a change would bring to their practice, professional values and identity in the event of a change in the law. Nurses in other parts of the world are watching carefully also, mindful that shifts and consequences in the UK could reflect their own experiences in the future and help guide any preparation required on their part.
This spotlight brought together nurse leaders to explore the possible consequences of introducing assisted death to the world of palliative care and how nurses and their teams maintain their wellbeing and impact in the light of it.
Speakers
Caring for people considering assisted dying presents profound professional and emotional challenges.
A thought-provoking session exploring how nurses can sustain their wellbeing while providing safe, compassionate care for those who may wish to explore or plan to take up this option.
Dr Heather Richardson set the context for this important discussion.
Victoria Ali, Postgraduate Student, Lancaster University, shared early research findings on how nurses experience aspects of care that may be perceived as hastening death and the implications for individual practice and nursing leadership.
Nicole Porquet-Seitz, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care (Calgary, Canada), offered insights from her extensive experience working alongside Medically Assisted in Dying (MAID) , reflecting on its impact on nurses, relationships with patients and families, and the role of palliative care in supporting those who choose this path.
July 2025 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
“The Canary in the Coal Mine: Why a Trauma-Informed Lens Empowers Nurses”
Ever feel like something’s off in the system, and you’re carrying the weight of it all? That’s no coincidence. Nurses are the early warning signs of deeper issues in healthcare – just like canaries in the coal mine. When we’re burning out, it’s time to pay attention.
In this session we explored how a trauma-informed lens can help meet the real needs of nurses – our stress, our stories, and our systems.
We heard from Ana Da Silva Vicente and Anna Mahne, two nurses on a journey to bring humanity back into healthcare. They shared how understanding trauma, systems thinking, and neuroscience has transformed the way they lead, care, and look after themselves.
April 2025 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Global Health and opportunities for palliative nursing leadership – a masterclass from leaders in the field
We were joined by Barbara Stillwell a nurse with huge expertise in global health and two of the GPNN champions Yangden Paki in Bhutan and Dr Halima Ali Sudan who have in different ways initiated palliative care in their countries. Their amazing stories depict how it starts with one nurse and builds through connection and collaboration.
January 2025 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
The vital place of Professional Development to strengthen the impact of nursing
We were joined by Joanna O’Brien who shared what she values about her own professional development and Minna Hokka, Doctor of Nursing Practice Senior and Researcher at Diaconia University of Applied Sciences.
In this session we will explore what are the key domains to attend to, to develop one’s self.
Minna will share with us the impact of introducing a groundbreaking National Competency Framework for palliative nursing in Finland.
September 2024 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Patricia Strachan and Marie Cooper led a fantastic session on the importance of storytelling, and shared insights on the unique role and skills of nursing in communication and advocacy.
Patricia, who hosts the Radical Nurse Talk podcast, underscored the power of storytelling , urging us to spotlight our relational praxis and grow in confidence to articulate the compassion, empathy, and presence in patient care. These stories can reveal the profound impact of human connection in nursing which can often overshadowed by the focus on clinical efficiency and metrics.
The reflections shared by others during this session inspired us to rethink how we talk about nursing, and reminded us of the critical role of the unique contribution of nurses.
4 April 2024 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Investing in our people – our greatest asset
We know if we want to provide quality and sustainable care, we and our colleagues need to be resourced and happy at work.
At this month’s spotlight event hear from network leads Marie and Heather, along with guest speaker Dr Emma Hodges. We will:
1. Look at the vital aspects of recruitment, retention, and development and why attending to our happiness at work can have real value.
2. Introduce you to Practice Development as an approach which you can build into your everyday leadership. It will focus on benefits of staff knowing they are valued and that their voice matters.
3. Look at how to harness support beyond the confines of the paid workforce. We’ll delve into the power of investing in your local community and leveraging the strength of volunteers to enrich your care offer and extend your impact.
18 January 2024 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
The therapeutic presence of nurses in the place of suffering
Presented by Deborah Holman, Lecturer, St Christopher’s CARE, Leonor Pacheco, Deputy Ward Manager, St Christopher’s and Anu Savio Thelly, Nurse Consultant, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute
Much of the work in palliative nursing involves accompanying the person as they encounter loss and suffering. This can be hard and we seek to alleviate suffering wherever we can. However there will be times where our very presence is all that we can offer and often that is all that is needed to enable that person to be seen, to know they will not be abandoned and they matter right to the end of their life. Come and meet Deborah, Leonor and Anu, nurses who have thought deeply on this aspect of nursing. They will share with us stories and strategies on how we can ‘meet the moment’, stay present and care for oneself at such times.
Deborah Holman
Leonor Pacheco
Anu Savio Thelly
Spotlight Event
14 November 2023 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Opportunities to advance nursing through inspiring others to learn and democratising our knowledge
Presented by Alex Daniels, Maaike Vandeweghe and Mark Pedder
Join Alex, Maaike and Mark, three leaders in education who will share with us their expertise and insights into creating a rewarding learning environment in the workplace and online.
Maaike and Mark will offer us creative ways to really ensure a positive learning experience within any care setting.
Hear from Alex about the impact the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) is having globally through it’s drive to educate all in the care of children. We will get real insight into how having access to an online platform is offering nurses globally the opportunity to learn together in a flexible, self-directed style. Such an approach is having a real impact.
Alex Daniels
Maaike Vandeweghe
Mark Pedder
Spotlight Event
13 September 2023 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
An Ethical framework for Nursing today
Presented by Mahoganie Hines, facilitated by David Kenneth Wright
Without doubt ethics is an integral part of the day-to-day work of a nurse and can raise real challenges. The most frequently occurring and stressful ethical situations are found to be in relation to protecting patients’ rights, staffing, advanced care planning and decision-making. How clear are you and your team on what informs such decisions? What shared understanding and framework do you use? Mahoganie will make a compelling argument for the place of an ethical framework for nursing today and share with us her work to bring this into the fore within her practice.
See here for an introductory video from Mahoganie.
Mahoganie Hines
David Kenneth Wright
Spotlight Event
11 July 2023 – a ‘Watch Again’ recording is available to GPNN members
Re-encountering Trauma at the end of life
Presented by Dr Jo Stubley and Maggie Bisset
Join Maggie and Jo as they share their vast experience and expertise in this area of trauma informed care.
Through the lens of case studies and a short presentation we will discuss the ability to identify and support a dying person and their loved ones re-encountering trauma from a past experience and importantly how to care for oneself and our team as we attend to such suffering.
There will be an hour with the guest speakers then for 20 mins we setting up small groups of five for those of you who would like to stay on and chat about what you learnt or are left thinking about.
Maggie Bissett
Dr Jo Stubley
Marie Cooper
Heather Richardson
Lantern Model
The Lantern Model is contemporary model of nursing for people dying or bereaved.
The model was developed by Heather Richardson and Marie Cooper, two nurses based at St Christopher’s who have articulated a contemporary model of nursing for people dying or bereaved.
The Lantern Model articulates the unique, vital and skilled role of nurses caring for people who are dying or bereaved and, by highlighting their contribution, makes the case for increased investment in their recruitment, development and retention.
*Thanks to the generous support of a funder, the GPNN remains free for 2025/26
