Palliative Care and End-of Life Nursing

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the competencies necessary for nurses in providing high-quality care to patients and families of patients during the transition at the end-of-life stage of care. The paper reveals that a critical aspect of palliative care is support on the psychological level and preparing the patient and family members to cope with the factors associated with impending death. The paper emphasizes that only the nurse who possesses the stated competencies and whom has prepared the family in anticipation of the progressive stages of the disease, is capable of minimizing the experienced psychological stress for both the patient and their family members.

Outline:
Introduction
Palliative care Nursing Competencies
Correlation of End-Of-Life Factors and Psychological Stress
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"There was little in earlier centuries that the health care professional could actually do to help patients during the end-of life period except to attempt to ease the pain and suffering experienced by the individual however, recent research has identified specific competencies and best practices for the individual who acts as a nurse to patients during this transition period. Since people live longer in today's world and the elderly population only continues to grow, there are more people with chronic illness in need of care."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ferrell, Betty R. and Coyle, Nessa (2002) An Overview of Palliative Nursing Care. American Journal of Nursing May 2002 Vol. 102 No. 5
• Peaceful Death: Recommended Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for End-of Life Nursing Care (1998) American Association of Colleges of Nursing Feb. 1998. Online available at: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/deathfin.htm
• Kristjanson, Linda J.; Toye, Christine; and Dawson, Sky (2003) New Dimensions in Palliative Care: A Palliative Approach to Neurodegenerative Diseases and Final Illness in Older People. Palliative Care - The Medical Journal of Australia. 2003; 179 (6 Suppl): S41-43.

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