State-of-the-art patient care. The impact of doctorally prepared clinical nurses

Delivery of state-of-the-art patient care requires new models to foster the development of professional nurses and integrate practice, research, and education. The Chief Nursing Officer of University Hospital/Associate Dean of the College of Nursing at a tertiary health science center positioned doctorally prepared nurses in clinical practice settings to assist in actualizing a vision of state-of-the-art patient care. Strategic targets for performance improvement included building collaboration between the college and hospital, supporting advanced education for nurses, moving the nursing culture from one of co-dependence to one of professionalism, fostering research at the unit level, and capitalizing on the strengths of nurse leaders. Creating an environment where staff nurses use critical thinking skills and access their advanced practice nurse (APN) resources as they do their work has been a win-win-win situation for the patients, the hospital, and the college at the health science center.     

The use of nurses in community palliative care

This qualitative study uses a phenomenological life world perspective to examine the utilization of nurses in community palliative care for people with noncancer conditions with a life expectancy of 2 years. Sited in Otago, New Zealand, while there was a number of health professionals involved in providing palliative care in the community for people with malignant conditions, none of the participants with nonmalignant disease were receiving specialist palliative care at the time of interview. Support services used a rehabilitative model of care that was not always appropriate in meeting the needs of the people who were dying and their families.     

The impact of a regional palliative care program on the cost of palliative care delivery

In July 1995 the Edmonton Regional Palliative Care Program (ERPCP) was established in the City of Edmonton to increase the access of patients with terminal cancer to palliative care services, decrease the number of cancer deaths in acute-care facilities, and increase the participation of family physicians in the care of terminally ill patients. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the cost of implementation of the ERPCP and savings in acute-care facility costs after its implementation. We did this by comparing the cost of care for patients during 1992-93 (prior to the ERPCP) and 1996-97 (with the ERPCP). The main outcome measures were the cost of care and the total hospital stay in days for all patients during their last acute-care hospital admission. The increased funding for the ERPCP was offset by a significant decrease in the overall cost of palliative care in the acute-care facilities. There was a substantial decrease in the palliative care costs in acute facilities from 11,963,846 dollars in 1992/93 to 3,449,055 dollars in 1996/97. This can be explained by the significant decrease in the number of palliative care patient days in acute-care facilities from 22,608 during 1992/93 to 6085 during 1996/97. Physician billings were slightly higher for 1996 as compared to 1992. In 1992, 90% (195,117/427,780) of the billings were made by the specialists (internists, surgeons, and other specialists), while in 1996/97 67% (359,869/537,342) of the payments were made to primary care practitioners (p < 0.0001). Overall, there were estimated saving of 1,650,689 dollars for palliative care costs in 1996/97 as compared to 1992/93. Our results suggest that the establishment of an integrated palliative care program reduced the cost of care. Prospective cost measurement studies are required.     

应用PCQN量表对护士姑息护理知晓度的调查

目的 调查护士对姑息护理相关知识的知晓程度.方法 使用姑息护理知识问卷(PCQN)对护师及以上职称和参加毕业后规范化培训的护士各40名进行调查.结果 护师及以上职称和参加毕业后规范化培训的护士PCQN答案正确率分别为67.9%和50.3%,两组比较有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 虽然护师及以上职称对姑息护理相关知识的知晓程度较参加毕业后规范化培训的护士高,但普遍水平仍较低,需要加强培训.     

应用PCQN量表对护士姑息护理知晓度的调查

目的 调查护士对姑息护理相关知识的知晓程度.方法 使用姑息护理知识问卷(PCQN)对护师及以上职称和参加毕业后规范化培训的护士各40名进行调查.结果 护师及以上职称和参加毕业后规范化培训的护士PCQN答案正确率分别为67.9%和50.3%,两组比较有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 虽然护师及以上职称对姑息护理相关知识的知晓程度较参加毕业后规范化培训的护士高,但普遍水平仍较低,需要加强培训.     

The developing role of children's nurses in community palliative care

This article addresses some of the contemporary issues in relation to providing palliative care for children in Ireland, particularly focusing on the creation of the specialist palliative care nursing outreach posts. The recent publication of an Irish national policy on palliative care for children with life-limiting illness is welcome news for paediatric nurses in Ireland. Children are valued members of society and have a right to receive quality health care and support appropriate to meet both children and the families' precise needs. However, community services for children with life-limiting illnesses remain inadequate, with many parents and families struggling to provide palliative care for children in the home. Currently, community nurses, who are not always registered children's nurses, are providing palliative care for children at the end of life. These nurses may not fully understand the specific needs of critically or chronically ill children and their families. In addition, there are no specific palliative care educational programmes in Ireland with regard to end-of-life care for children. The challenges of providing palliative care to children and their families in relation to symptom control, controversial ethical and legal issues, and emotional and practical support, mean that advanced knowledge is required in order to progress the agenda and thus provide excellence in children's palliative care in Ireland. It is important that the agenda is moved forward so that children and their families requiring palliative care and nursing support do not suffer from a lack of professional provision for their needs.     

Educational needs of palliative care nurses in Quebec

Education appears to be a useful strategy for improving quality of care and work-related stress management. The present study assesses the educational needs of palliative care nurses working in acute care hospitals (n=88) and CLSCs (Centre Local de Services Communautaires, home-based, n=109) of the larger Quebec City area. It also describes relationships between educational needs, psychological distress, and self-efficacy. Nurses were surveyed and compared on training needs, preferred learning format, as well as barriers and factors facilitating attendance to workshops. Similar educational needs were observed in both work settings. Crisis, stress, and emotion management were rated as the most useful topics, followed by nonpharmacological ways to manage pain. Preferred educational formats were lectures and group discussions. Attending free training sessions during work hours was described as the best way to promote participation. Educational needs were positively related to psychological distress, and negatively related to perceived self-efficacy in providing good palliative care.     

SARS病区护士心理社会状况的调查分析

目的　了解和分析护理严重急性呼吸综合征 (severeacuterespiratorysyndrome ,SARS)病人对护士心理社会状况产生的影响。方法　采用便利抽样的方法选择了北京市 3所三级甲等医院参加过SARS病人救治工作的 1 5 0名护士。研究工具为护理SARS病人对护士心理社会状况的影响调查问卷 ,包括护士的一般情况、离开SARS病房的时间及护理SARS病人对护士心理社会的影响等 1 7个问题。结果　超过 6 0 %的护士在社会歧视方面的影响 6个问题中都填写了非常不同意或不同意。超过 6 0 %的护士在对护士造成悲伤和失落感方面的影响 6个问题中都填写了非常同意或同意 ;超过 75 %的护士在参加过SARS病人救治工作是否得到社会的认可方面 5个问题中都填写了非常同意或同意。结论　护理SARS病人对护士产生的积极影响大于消极影响     

The impact of physician-nurse interaction on patient care

The perceptions of physicians and nurses vary in a number of respects, including the extent to which collaboration and joint decision making are valued, the definition of what constitutes adequate and appropriate interprofessional communication, the quality of nurse-physician interactions, and the understanding of respective areas of responsibility as well as patient goals. Reasons for these differences have been attributed to gender, historical origins of the two professions, and disparities between physicians and nurses with regard to socioeconomic status, education, and socialization. Failure of physicians and nurses to interact in a coordinated and positive fashion results in unhealthy work environments and poor patient outcomes. Both professions must examine their will to improve interprofessional interactions.     

The impact of conducting a regional palliative care clinical study

End-of-life care must be informed by methodologically rigorous, high-quality research, but well-documented barriers make the conduct of palliative care clinical trials difficult. With careful consideration to study design and procedures, these barriers are surmountable. This paper discusses the approach used in a large scale, randomised, controlled trial of service-based interventions in a regional palliative care service in South Australia, and the impact of this trial on palliative care research more broadly, the changes to the service in which it was conducted, and on health policy beyond palliative care. The Palliative Care Trial evaluated three interventions in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial cluster randomised design: case conferences, general practitioner education, and patient education. Main outcomes were performance status, pain intensity, and resource utilisation. A total of 461 patients were enrolled in the study. Pre-study planning and piloting is crucial, and accurately estimated withdrawal and death rates in the study. Other study design elements that facilitated this research included assessment of three interventions at one time, a dedicated recruitment role, a single clinical triage point, embedding data collection into routine clinical assessments, and meaningful outcome measures. Recruitment and retention of participants is possible if barriers are systematically identified and addressed. This study challenged and developed the research culture within our clinical team and subsequently translated into further research.     

The impact of home palliative care on symptoms in advanced cancer patients

Physical symptoms, which are highly prevalent in patients with cancer, have a major impact on many aspects of quality of life, and the best possible quality of life is the principal aim of palliative care. Few studies have reported the impact of home care on pain and symptoms among cancer patients living at home. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of home palliative care given by an experienced team on symptoms in advanced cancer patients. A consecutive series of 373 patients who were referred to a home palliative care program in the period 1993-1995 were prospectively evaluated. Patients were enrolled for the presence of different symptoms (pain, nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, dysphagia, gastric discomfort, constipation, diarrhea, dyspnea, drowsiness, weakness, confusion, psychological symptoms). For the purpose of the study we have selected 211 patients who, according to a retrospective assessment, survived for longer than 3 weeks and who were followed up until their deaths. Pain, nausea and vomiting, gastric discomfort, and diarrhea significantly decreased after palliative intervention. This improvement was maintained until death, whereas, after an initial improvement, dyspnea and constipation tended to increase in intensity in the last days of life. Drowsiness, weakness, and confusion increased in intensity in the last days of patients' lives. Similarly, fluid and food intake significantly decreased during the last days of life. Opioid dosage and frequency of opioid use increased with time, but this change did not reach statistical significance until the last days, when 70% of patients were taking opioids. These figures demonstrate the good impact of palliative care in this group of patients.