Dignified end-of-life care in the patients’ own homes

Source: Nursing Ethics, 2011, 18(3) p.374-85

Follow this link  for the abstract.

Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article describes a research project undertaken to illustrate community nurses’ experiences of the factors contributing to a good death in patient’s own homes. Factors identified include autonomy, integrity and safety.  Examples of ways in which care staff can help supply these factors and contribute significantly to a dignified end of life are provided.

Length of publication: 11 pages

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

Innovation by example

Source: Nursing Standard, 2011, 25 (37) p22 & 23.

Follow this link for fulltext.  Please note: you will need an NHS Athens password to obtain access to the fulltext.  If you don’t have an NHS Athens account please follow this link to contact your local NHS Library.

Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article highlights the NHS Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) collection of case studies of nursing initiatives which have significantly improved patient care for patients at the end of their lives.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Acknowledgement: BNI

Training aimed at complex needs

Source: Nursing Standard 2011, vol.25(35), p62-3

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Date: May 2011

Publication type: Article

Publication length: 2 pages

In a nutshell: This article describes the work of the charity Demelza in providing family-orientated hospice care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Kent, East Sussex and south east London. The work of nurses in the community palliative teams who provide care for children at home is also highlighted.

Some important notes: An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online. Follow this link to register for an Athens password.

A Community Partnership Approach to Building and Empowering a Palliative Care Resource Nurse Team

Source:  Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing 13 (1) p. 31-40

Follow this link  for abstract

Date of publication:  January/February 2011

Publication type:  Article

In a nutshell:  This article describes a programme of palliative care nursing curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation which may be adaptable for other institutions who wish to enhance nursing knowledge and delivery of palliative care.

Length of publication:  9 pages

Award-winning nurse who gives patients the best possible journey

Source:  Learning Disability Practice, 2010,13(9) p. 6-7

Date of publication: November 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell:  This article is an interview with Dorothy Matthews about her role as the UK’s only Macmillan nurse who specialises in providing terminal care for people with learning disabilities. How her role came about, her career, and her motivation to specialise in terminal care are discussed. She reflects on the challenges of breaking bad news and obtaining consent in end-of-life care planning, and her end-of-life care guide for learning disability carers is highlighted.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Some important notes: This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Acknowledgement:  BNI

End-of-life care: a community perspective

 Source:  Nursing in Practice, 2010, (57) p46-9

Date of publication: December 2010

Publication type:  Article

In a nutshell:  This article expores the issue of caring for children and adults at the end of life in their own homes from a community nursing perspective and makes recommendations about service provision.

Length of publication:  3 pages

Some important notes: This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link  to find your local NHS Library 

Acknowledgement:  BNI

A literature review of the role of the specialist palliative care community nurse.

Source:   International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 2010, 16 (4) p163-9 

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Date of publication: April, 2010

Publication type:  Article

In a nutshell:   International research is reviewed to establish a better understanding of the role of the specialist palliative care community nurse (SPCCN). In light of developments in cancer treatment and palliative care, which have lead to improved symptom control and increased prognosis for palliative care patients, the role of the SPCCN has evolved and evidence shows a move to specialist rather than generalist responsiblities, including the provision of a consultancy service and this has led to some role ambiguity.  Three themes emerged in defining the role of the community palliative care nurse:

• communication and collaboration
• a clarification of the role
• the role of referral.

It is clear that

• there is less definition of professional role boundaries amongst the palliative care team 
• the SPCCN has a capacity to coordinate and provide expertise in delivering complex symptom control to patients and their families

Length of publication:  8 pages.

Some important notes:  If you do not have a current NHS Athens account, please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article.  Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Palliative care, pain control and nurse prescribing

Source:  Nurse Prescribing, 2010, 8,(6), p.257-64

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Date of publication: June, 2010.

Publication type:  Article

In a nutshell:  Article examines the role of nurse prescribers in helping cancer patients manage their pain which can be a major source of anxiety and distress for most cancer patients at the end of life.  Nurse prescribers in palliative care can address the issue of inadequate pain management by facilitating access to medications in a more timely manner.

Length of publication:  8 pages

Some important notes:  This article is available in full text to all NHS Staff using Athens, for more information about accessing full text follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

24/7 palliative care nursing still patchy

Title: 24/7 palliative care nursing still patchy

Source: Nursing Times 2010 Vol. 106(27) p2

Date: July 2010

Publication type: News story

In a nutshell: A Freedom of Information Act request by MacMillan Cancer Support found that 24/7 community nursing support for end of life care patients is available in only half of the PCTs in England. This suggests there has been little in improvement in round the clock community nursing support since the publication of the National End of Life Care strategy in 2008.

Publication Length: 1 page

Some important notes: This article is not available online, contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

Palliative care provision for older people in care homes

Title: Palliative care provision for older people in care homes

Source: British Journal of Community Nursing v15(4), p170-176

Follow this link the article abstract

Date of publication: April 2010

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the current involvement of district nurses in care homes and identify the potential implications for future practice in providing palliative care in this setting. The findings suggested that even experienced district nurses, wanted support and education about when to commence palliative care. They also wanted earlier involvement with care home residents who have a life-limiting condition and care home managers were seen as being essential contributors towards planning care.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your library for a copy of this article. To find your local health library follow this link.

ACT calls for more Community Children’s Nursing to boost care for terminally ill children

Title: ACT calls for more Community Children’s Nursing to boost care for terminally ill children

Source: ACT

Follow this link for web article

Date of Publication: March 2010

Publication Type: Web Article

In a nutshell: ACT has welcomed the launch of Front Line Care, the report by the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England. One of the report’s key recommendations is a commitment to improve the care of all people with long-term health conditions, including children and young people, and the recognition of the leading role nurses play in delivering this.

Acknowledgements: The Prime Minister’s Commission on The Future of Midwifery and Nursing in England

Implementation and evaluation of a palliative care resource scheme within a district general hospital.

Title: Implementation and evaluation of a palliative care resource scheme within a district general hospital.

Source: International Journal of Palliative Nursing 2009, 15(10) p481-486

Follow this link to the full-text of the article

Date of Publication: October 2009

Publication Type: Article

In a nutshell: This article explores the development, implementation and evaluation of a palliative care resource scheme in a district general hospital in Mid Gamorgan, Wales. The evolution of the resource scheme and how the hospital specialist palliative care team identified the need for improved patient care on hospital wards is discussed, in addition to how using their specialist role combined with education can implement change. The resource enhances the knowledge of the practitioners who have completed it and also formalizes and expands the working links between education and clinical practice. It is hoped to continue and develop the scheme to further enhance the collaborative partnerships.

Publication length: 6 pages

Some important notes: An NHS Athens password is required to access this article online. Follow this link to set up an NHS Athens password

Acknowledgements: CINAHL

Associations between successful palliative cancer pathways and community nurse involvement

Source: BMC Palliative Care 2009, 8:18

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Date of Publication: December 2009

Publication Type: Article

In a nutshell: This article reports on research carried out in Denmark examining the associations between bereaved relatives evaluation of palliative treatment at home and 1) place of death and 2) community nurse involvement. Most terminally ill cancer patients and their relatives wish that the patient dies at home and community nurses are often the frontline worker and their involvement may be important to attaining successful palliative pathways at home.

Acknowledgement: BioMed Central

Lincolnshire Rapid Response Service expanded

Source: Marie Curie Delivering Choice News

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Date of publication: September 2009

Publication type: Webpage

In a nutshell:

Marie Curie Cancer Care Rapid Response Service which was successfully pilotted in the Boston and South Holland areas of the county has now been expanded to cover the whole of Lincolnshire as part of the Lincolnshire Delivering Choices Programme. The Rapid Response Team provides planned and urgent care visits to patients in their own homes during the out of hours period and 17 new jobs have been created as a result of the expansion. The aim of the service is to enhance patient choice and to accommodate double the previous number of patients choosing to be cared for and die at home.

Acknowledgement: Marie Curie website.