Working with medications is a major role for nurses in the care of any patient, but especially with palliative care patients. This may be in relation to administering medication as prescribed, supporting others in this role, or in providing advice to those who are prescribing. Patients and families will also require advice and support on the medications that they are taking and nurses will often fulfil this role. 

Resources

• MND SA has a useful fact Sheet: Breathing and motor neurone disease: medications and non-invasive ventilation
• The Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education has Community Palliative Care Medication guidelines
• HealthInsite website has the following information: Palliative Care Medications
• Palliative Care Australia ‘Together 2009’ Conference included the following presentations:
  • Palliative Care Community Medications Project (WA)
  • Enhancing the role of the community pharmacist in palliative care
• Palliative Care Australia also has the following information
  • Consumer Fact Sheet: Facts about Morphine
  • Opioid Medication in Palliative Care (Online Education for GPs)
• The Queensland Government has the following information: Guidelines for the Handling of Medication in Community-Based Palliative Care Services in Queensland
• The following consumer fact sheet may be of interest: Consumer Fact Sheet from Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services
• The Australian General Practice Network facilitates the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) program, one of the central objectives of Australia's National Medicines Policy.

Related CareSearch Pages

GP pages
Prescribing issues
Resources / prescribing
Opioids and pain
Resources / opioids
Printable patient resources / medicines

For Patients and Families
Managing Medication

National Palliative Care Program
PaCCSC

Nurses Hub 
Syringe Drivers

Free Full Text Article

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This page was created on 27 August 2010
Last updated 27 August 2010*