Author
- Suzanne Coller1
- Western Sydney Local Health District1
2018
Excerpt
Suzanne Coller, Clinical Nurse Consultant has been working at the Mount Druitt Supportive & Palliative Care Unit for the past 10 years. Her role involves collaborating and liaising with the Palliative Care Team within the Western Sydney Local Health District. She has a great interest in research and is currently continuing her research regarding specialist palliative care nurses.
INTRODUCTION:
The WSLHD delivers multidisciplinary palliative care to patients with malignant and non- malignant disease. This multidisciplinary approach assists patients and their families with symptom management, after- hours’ advice as well as grief and bereavement support. As part of a multidisciplinary team specialist palliative care nurses provide care to patients and their families within the hospital and community settings of the WSLHD. The area encompasses three hospitals with designated palliative care beds, two specialist supportive and palliative care units and five community health centres. The team also provides support for the private hospitals within the area.
AIM:
Employing a qualitative approach this study gathered data from specialist palliative care nurses across the Western Sydney Local Health District. Data was collected through a semi-structured interview tool. A focus group was conducted with medical officers and allied health staff of the supportive and palliative care team.
RESULTS:
The analysis of the interview transcripts is being undertaken using a thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke (2006). Analysis commenced with a process of familiarisation and immersion in the data, whereby the interviewer along with the other members of the research team read and re-read each de-identified transcript independently.
Interpretation of ideas and their relationships will then be discussed collectively and these concepts grouped into meaningful categories or concepts and then sub categories. Emerging themes will be articulated and also discussed throughout the analysis process with the research team.
CONCLUSION:
Consistent appropriate service provision has potential benefits to all patients and carers of the supportive and palliative care service. The proposed increased knowledge, collaboration and understanding that specialist palliative nurses may achieve from their inclusion in this project could inform their practice and the implementation of care. Their responses will provide an overview of the service being provided and may identify any gaps that are being experienced. This information may inform and potentially change service provision for the better.
DISCUSSION:
It is indeed true that caring for people at the end of life can be undertaken in any ward of any hospital. This happens every day in all hospitals however would that care be more beneficial and supportive of patients and their families if undertaken by a specialist palliative care nurse?
INTRODUCTION:
The WSLHD delivers multidisciplinary palliative care to patients with malignant and non- malignant disease. This multidisciplinary approach assists patients and their families with symptom management, after- hours’ advice as well as grief and bereavement support. As part of a multidisciplinary team specialist palliative care nurses provide care to patients and their families within the hospital and community settings of the WSLHD. The area encompasses three hospitals with designated palliative care beds, two specialist supportive and palliative care units and five community health centres. The team also provides support for the private hospitals within the area.
AIM:
- The principal aims of this research project are:
- To explore how specialist palliative care nurses contribute to the care provided to patients and their families.
- To ascertain how specialist palliative care nurses contribute to the care provided to patients and their families from the view of palliative care medical officers and allied health staff.
Employing a qualitative approach this study gathered data from specialist palliative care nurses across the Western Sydney Local Health District. Data was collected through a semi-structured interview tool. A focus group was conducted with medical officers and allied health staff of the supportive and palliative care team.
RESULTS:
The analysis of the interview transcripts is being undertaken using a thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke (2006). Analysis commenced with a process of familiarisation and immersion in the data, whereby the interviewer along with the other members of the research team read and re-read each de-identified transcript independently.
Interpretation of ideas and their relationships will then be discussed collectively and these concepts grouped into meaningful categories or concepts and then sub categories. Emerging themes will be articulated and also discussed throughout the analysis process with the research team.
CONCLUSION:
Consistent appropriate service provision has potential benefits to all patients and carers of the supportive and palliative care service. The proposed increased knowledge, collaboration and understanding that specialist palliative nurses may achieve from their inclusion in this project could inform their practice and the implementation of care. Their responses will provide an overview of the service being provided and may identify any gaps that are being experienced. This information may inform and potentially change service provision for the better.
DISCUSSION:
It is indeed true that caring for people at the end of life can be undertaken in any ward of any hospital. This happens every day in all hospitals however would that care be more beneficial and supportive of patients and their families if undertaken by a specialist palliative care nurse?