Gero Module 1- Intro to Palliative Care Nursing

Which of the following patients should you advocate for getting a palliative care referral?

A 32-year-old female newly diagnosed with breast cancer

Hospice

A team approach to providing care to people with life-threatening illnesses or injuries. It supports dignity of life, irrespective of how much time the person has.

Psychological symptoms

Anxiety, depression, enjoyment/leisure, pain/distress, happiness, fear, cognition/attn

Serious illness

Any disease of event that is unlikely to be curable and is life-limiting

Which of the following is an important way nurses can improve palliative care access for those who should receive it?

Being knowledgeable of the benefits of palliative and hospice care

Palliative Care

Can be offered at any time in the disease trajectory and should be part of care at the time of a serious dx- can occur in any clinical setting.

CARES

Competencies and Recommendations for Educating Undergraduate Nursing Students- used to educate nursing students about the care of seriously ill patients and their families

Continuum of Care

Disease-Modifying tx, Palliative Care, Hospice care, bereavement support

Barriers to communication

Fears surrounding death, lack of personal experience, insensitivity, guilt for failure, desire to support a perception, disagreements, lack of knowledge and understanding, personal grief issues, ethical concerns

Physical Symptoms

Functional ability, strength/fatigue, sleep & rest, nausea, appetite, constipation, pain

Which of the following statements reflects the importance of learning about palliative care as a student nurse?

Future employers expect you to have education and training in palliative care services.

Spiritual symptoms

Hope, suffering, meaning of pain, religiosity, transcendence

Hospice Care

Is regulated by CMS and is limited to care that occurs only in the last 6 months of life. Usually delivered wherever the patient calls "home".

Which of the following describes palliative care's philosophy and delivery?

It supports the patient and family's hope for quality of life and dignity.

Palliative Care

Patient and family centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering. It involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs and to facilitate pt autonomy, access to info and choice.

Mrs. Woodrow tells you that her mother has been staying with her and is having difficulty sleeping due to poorly controlled pain. Which quality of life domain is Mrs. Woodrow's mother struggling with?

Physical

Quality of Life Domains

Physical Social Psychological Spiritual

Nursing Roles

Presence Communication skills Care Coordination Evidence-based Practice

One of the nurse's most important roles in caring for seriously ill patients and their families is:

Providing listening and presence

The majority of hospice care is delivered in:

The home

Which of the following statements is true about serious, chronic illnesses?

The majority of annual U.S. healthcare spending goes toward chronic illnesses.

What should drive decision-making in palliative care?

The patient's goals of care

Nursing Role

To advocate for patient access to the team and to work with the team to develop a plan of care that is consistent with the patient's wishes.

"Goals of care"

defines what type of care is most in line with the patient's wishes

Social symptoms

financial burden, caregiver burden, roles and relationships, affection/sexual function, appearance

Palliative vs Hospice

Palliative care can continue to received disease modifying tx but hospice the patient is no longer able to receive disease-modifying treatment

You are asked to describe palliative care to a family member. Which of the following statements would be best to include in your discussion?

Palliative care supports the patient's goals of care.

8 Domains of Palliative Care

Structure and process of care, Physical Aspects of Care, Psychological and Psychiatric Aspects of Care, Social Aspects of Care, Spiritual, religious, and existential aspects of care, cultural aspects of care, care of the patient at the end of life, and ethical and legal aspects of care