International journal of palliative nursing
-
In a 12-month period six people died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in a Melbourne hospice. CJD is a rare neurodegenerative disease, which commonly follows an explosive course unabated into the terminal phase. For the purposes of this article the care of six patients was audited using a retrospective chart review and a focus group was conducted with nurses involved in their care. ⋯ This review focuses on the particular care issues of six people with CJD and their families at the end of life. The personal issues experienced by the nurses who provided palliative care are also explored. The need for the future development of guidelines for families and health professionals who care for people with CJD is highlighted.
-
This article presents the findings of a study of rural palliative care nurses in Western Australia. The number of rural centres in Western Australia offering palliative care services is increasing; however, at present there is little empirical data available about the roles of the nurses involved. This study was undertaken to begin to correct this deficit. ⋯ Three subthemes relating to multiple roles, expectations of nurses, and coping strategies are also discussed. This research explored issues that rural palliative care nurses feel are relevant to their professional practice, and it describes the basic social processes inherent in the rural palliative care nurse's role. Recommendations for nursing research, education, administration and clinical practice are presented.
-
The overall aim of this study was to examine district nurses' (DNs') perceptions of palliative care services within the community setting. A questionnaire which focused on the key areas of defining palliative care, perception of roles, communication, service provision and the education and training needs of DNS was used. This was designed following a review of the literature and combined with data from phase one of the study (Vol 5(5): 215-222), which involved focus group interviews with DNs. ⋯ However, the supportive element of the DN's role was also identified alongside the potential role as coordinator. Palliative care service provision was considered adequate and the main services that nurses identified as useful related to the provision of 24-hour care. The main factors identified by nurses as influencing service provision related to organizational issues such as inadequate staffing levels, limited resources and a lack of time.
-
Using an action research approach, the author worked with district nurses to enable them to identify their own palliative care education needs and to plan the appropriate education programme, with reflective practice enabling the identification of further education needs. This approach overcame some of the problems of pre-planned, unresponsive palliative care education programmes. ⋯ The knowledge gained from reflective practice is as relevant to nursing as the knowledge derived from academic theories. Reflective practice within palliative care education facilitates learning in a relatively new field of practice and generates a greater understanding of the complexities of palliative care and associated education needs.