International journal of nursing studies
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Nursing staff caring for people with dementia have a crucial role in addressing palliative care needs and identifying changes in health status. Palliative care for people with dementia is complex and requires specific competences. A lack thereof may lead to unnecessary hospitalizations, poor symptom control and undesirable burdensome treatments. Understanding what nursing staff need to provide palliative care specifically for people with dementia facilitates the development of tailored and feasible interventions. ⋯ A comprehensive overview of nursing staff perspectives on providing palliative care for people with dementia demonstrates interdependent needs related to recognizing and addressing palliative care needs, communicating, handling challenging behaviour and building close care relationships. These care-related needs occur within workplace and organizational contexts. Organizational support is considered insufficient. Yet, healthcare organizations have the authority to fulfil a facilitating role in implementing nursing interventions tailored to nursing staff needs. Areas for further research include home care settings, the psychosocial and spiritual domains of palliative dementia care, advance care planning and family involvement.