International journal of palliative nursing
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Breaking bad news is an extremely difficult and challenging process for the health care professional. The National Service Framework for Children in the UK highlights that the manner in which the health care professional delivers bad news impacts upon the way it is received, interpreted, understood and dealt with. The children's nurse, as an instrumental member of the multidisciplinary team caring for the child and family, is central to this complex communication process. This article examines the literature surrounding the breaking of bad news and introduces a new framework that outlines the multifaceted role of the children's nurse within this complex, challenging process.
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Comparative Study
Introduction of a pain scale for palliative care patients with cognitive impairment.
To describe the development and introduction of a pain scale for patients with cognitive impairment who are admitted to homes for older people and nursing homes in the region of northwest Flanders in Belgium. ⋯ The findings were not conclusive for the introduction of either Abbey or PAINAD. Based on the results, a simplified pain observation scale consisting of three items was developed. It has been introduced in the homes of the region and is being tested currently.
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To describe the qualitatively different ways a group of Australian nurses understood their experience of being a palliative care nurse. ⋯ The group of palliative care nurses involved in this research understood their experience as journeying with their patients through the final phases of the person's life. The journey involved the patient, his/her family and members of the healthcare team. The journey was described further as a process of personal development which influenced how nurses construct meaning about life and maintain a sense of self. The experiences described reveal a great deal about palliative care nursing and provide useful knowledge and insights to assist practitioners, managers and educators.
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Prison health care in the UK is currently experiencing a period of change and, therefore, there are opportunities for the development of palliative care services. Some of the challenges of providing this element of care to dying prisoners are highlighted in this article.