International journal of palliative nursing
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The notion of the interdisciplinary team as integral to the delivery of palliative care emerges clearly and consistently in palliative care philosophy and practice discourses. Many studies have found clear benefits of interdisciplinary palliative care teams. ⋯ This article examines the notion that palliative care interdisciplinary teams are universally or inevitably effective and identifies potential barriers and constraints to effective teamwork. In particular, it is suggested that there is a need for careful examination of how teams function in the realm of 'psychosocial' care, and ways to look beyond rhetoric are articulated in order to facilitate teams to function more efficiently to provide optimum patient care.
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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.