The American journal of hospice & palliative care
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jan 1995
Case ReportsHigh-tech pain management utilizing multiple analgesics--a case study.
Intraspinal delivery of opioids is a proven method of pain management therapy for severe cancer pain. Effective analgesia can be achieved with spinal opioid infusions while minimizing central side effects such as sedation, nausea, and severe constipation. ⋯ This patient required the administration of intraspinal morphine, intravenous hydromorphone, and intravenous midazolam in order to effectively manage his pain. The use of spinal analgesia and multiple analgesics offers challenges to oncology and hospice nurses but is an effective modality for otherwise intractable cancer pain.
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Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jul 1994
Factors affecting satisfaction among community-based hospice volunteer visitors.
Trained volunteers are an essential component in the delivery of care to clients and families facing a terminal and/or life-threatening illness. As the need for hospice care increases, so does the need to increase the number of volunteers available for visiting. Hospice of London, which is a community based hospice, proposed that volunteers who felt satisfied would remain with the organization longer, thereby, decreasing the costs associated with training new volunteers and enhancing the ability of the agency to provide high-quality volunteer client matches. ⋯ One hundred and five volunteer were surveyed over the telephone. Results demonstrated a positive correlation between satisfaction and feeling like a team member, receiving feedback from staff, feeling valuable and having the volunteer's expectations match the position. Differences in the factors related to satisfaction were noted when the groups were divided by age and gender.