Palliative and end of life care are an essential component of nursing practice. This book provides students with the key information they need to deliver effective and safe end of life care for patients and their families. Crucially, it also creates opportunities for them to reflect on their own perspectives on death and dying and explore the impact of this on their practice. Key features Fully mapped to the NMC standards of proficiency for registered nurses (2018) Helps you to develop a holistic understanding of the fundamental principles and practice of palliative and end of life care Activities encourage you reflect on your own perspectives of death and dying and to consider the impact this has on your practice Case studies bring the theory to life and illustrate the real world applicability

This "comforting...thoughtful" (The Washington Post) guide to maintaining a high quality of life-from resilient old age to the first inklings of a serious illness to the final breath-by the New York Times bestselling author of Knocking on Heaven's Door is a "roadmap to the end that combines medical, practical, and spiritual guidance" (The Boston Globe). "A common sense path to define what a 'good' death looks like" (USA TODAY), The Art of Dying Well is about living as well as possible for as long as possible and adapting successfully to change. Packed with extraordinarily helpful insights and inspiring true stories, award-winning journalist Katy Butler shows how to thrive in later life (even when coping with a chronic medical condition), how to get the best from our health system, and how to make your own "good death" more likely. Butler explains how to successfully age in place, why to pick a younger doctor and how to have an honest conversation with them, when not to call 911, and how to make your death a sacred rite of passage rather than a medical event. This handbook of preparations-practical, communal, physical, and spiritual-will help you make the most of your remaining time, be it decades, years, or months. Based on Butler's experience caring for aging parents, and hundreds of interviews with people who have successfully navigated our fragmented health system and helped their loved ones have good deaths, The Art of Dying Well also draws on the expertise of national leaders in family medicine, palliative care, geriatrics, oncology, and hospice. This "empowering guide clearly outlines the steps necessary to prepare for a beautiful death without fear" (Shelf Awareness).

Fundamentals of Palliative Care for Student Nurses is a thorough yet accessible introduction and overview of a key area of the nursing programme. This textbook clearly explains the palliation of symptoms and the social context of death and dying. Engaging with the latest guidelines and curriculum, it highlights the practical and communicative skills required for induction programmes and continuing professional development. KEY FEATURES: * A full-colour, student-friendly, introduction to the essentials of palliative, or end of life care * A topical and timely subject area, explored clearly and concisely * Full of interactive pedagogy and features, including quizzes, multiple choice questions, vignettes/case studies and activities * Features a companion website with links to further reading, additional activities and resources, and self-testing interactive multiple choice questions Fundamentals of Palliative Care for Student Nurses focuses on this area with expert knowledge and compassion, preparing students in order to help them provide the best possible care for their patients and their families.

Palliative care supports patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses by providing relief from physical, emotional and spiritual suffering, improving the quality of life for them and their families. It is an important component of good patient care, an integral part of the continuum of support for patients suffering with advanced cancer and end stage organ diseases. Providing good palliative care requires both sound clinical knowledge and compassion.With new chapters on end stage organ diseases, spiritual care and medical ethics, all healthcare professionals will find wisdom and practical advice in this book by the patient's bedside. The editors and contributors of the 2nd Edition of The Bedside Palliative Medicine Handbook have taken great care to provide readers with an evidence-based, updated guide to the practice of palliative medicine.

Christopher Kerr is a hospice doctor. All of his patients die. Yet he has tended thousands of patients who, in the face of death, speak of love, meaning and grace. They reveal that there is hope beyond cure as they transition to focus on personal meaning. In this extraordinary and beautiful book, Dr. Kerr shares his patients' stories and his own research pointing to death as not purely the end of life, but as a final passage of humanity and transcendence. Drawing on interviews with over 1,200 patients and more than a decade of quantified data , Dr. Kerr reveals why pre-death dreams and visions are remarkable events that bring comfort and exemplify human resilience. These are not regular dreams. Described as "more real than real," they frequently include loved ones long gone and mark the transition from distress to acceptance. These end-of-life experiences help patients restore meaning, make sense of the dying process and assist in reclaiming it as an experience in which they have a say. They also benefit the bereaved who get relief from seeing their loved ones pass with a sense of calm closure. Beautifully written with astonishing stories, this book, at its heart, celebrates the power to reclaim how we die, while soothing the bereaved who witness their loved ones go with unqualified grace.

Hospice care is available to patients and families dealing with terminal illness. People often do not avail themselves of hospice care because they don't understand what it entails. Many wait until their last few days to request this extraordinary comfort care instead of using the full six months available to them through Medicare and other insurance options. Demystifying Hospice describes through stories good news about end-of-life issues. Written from the perspective of a licensed social worker with experience in public and private hospitals, hospice, and the American Cancer Society, these first-hand accounts of patients, family members, hospice workers and others will lift spirits, touch hearts, and illustrate the advantages of hospice care. These are real-life examples of personalized comfort care, offered by an interdisciplinary team, where ever the patient lives. Each story addresses some aspect of helping families through the caregiving and grieving process, which are part-and-parcel of a serious illness, and offers comfort and understanding to readers who may be going through similar experiences. This book describes hope, healing, and support through difficult times.

'Wonderful, thoughtful, practical' - Cariad Lloyd, Griefcast 'Encouraging and inspiring' - Dr Kathryn Mannix, author of Amazon bestseller With the End in Mind End-of-life doula Anna Lyons and funeral director Louise Winter have joined forces to share a collection of the heartbreaking, surprising and uplifting stories of the ordinary and extraordinary lives they encounter every single day. From working with the living, the dying, the dead and the grieving, Anna and Louise reveal the lessons they've learned about life, death, love and loss. Together they've created a profound but practical guide to rethinking the one thing that's guaranteed to happen to us all. We are all going to die, and that's ok. Let's talk about it. This is a book about life and living, as much as it's a book about death and dying. It's a reflection on the beauties, blessings and tragedies of life, the exquisite agony and ecstasy of being alive, and the fragility of everything we hold dear. It's as simple and as complicated as that.

Over a period of almost 10 years, the work of the Project on Death in America (PDIA) played a formative role in the advancement of end of life care in the United States. The project concerned itself with adults and children, and with interests crossing boundaries between the clinical disciplines, the social sciences, arts and humanities. PDIA engaged with the problems of resources in poor communities and marginalized groups and settings, and it attempted to foster collaboration across a range of sectors and organizations. Authored by medical sociologist David Clark, whose research career has focused on mapping, archiving and analyzing the history and development of hospice, palliative care and related end of life issues, this book examines the broad, ambitious conception of PDIA - which sought to 'transform the culture of dying in America' - and assesses PDIA's contribution to the development of the palliative care field and to wider debates about end of life care within American society. Chapters consider key issues and topics tackled by PDIA grantees which include: explorations of the meanings of death in contemporary American culture; the varying experiences of care at the end of life (in different settings, among different social and ethnic groups); the innovations in service development and clinical practice that have occurred in the US in response to a growing awareness of and debate about end of life issues; the emerging evidence base for palliative and end of life care in the US; the maturation of a field of academic and clinical specialization; the policy and legal issues that have shaped development, including the ethical debate about assisted suicide and the Oregon experience; the opportunities and barriers that have been encountered; and the prospects for future development. A final chapter captures developments and milestones in the field since PDIA closed in 2003, and some of the challenges going forward.

Help families of institutionalized elders with this compassionate and practical manual.

This volume reviews the state of the art in caring for patients dying in the ICU, focusing on both clinical aspects of managing pain and other symptoms, as well as ethical and societal issues that affect the standards of care recieved, The book also addresses the changing epidemiology of death in this setting related to managed care, practical skills needed to provide the highest quality of care to terminal patients, communicating with patients and families, the mechanics of withdrawing life supporting therapies, and the essential role of palliative care specialists in the ICU. The book briefly describes unique issues that arise when caring for patients with some of the more common diseases that preciptate death in the ICU. Contributors for the book were chosed because they have experience caring for patients in the ICU, and are also doing curent research to find ways to improve care for terminal patients in this setting.

The concept of a "good death" has been hotly debated in medical circles for decades. This volume delves into the possibility and desirability of a "good death" by presenting the psychosocial measures of care as a crucial component, such as religion, existentialism, hope and meaning-making. The volume also focuses on oncologic psychiatry and the influence of technology as a means to alleviate pain and suffering, and potentially provide relief to those at the end of life. Such initiatives are aimed at diminishing pain and are socially bolstering and emotionally comforting to ensure a peaceful closure with life as opposed to a battle waged. Utilizing the most recent information from medical journals and books to present the latest on healthcare and dying today, this volume crosses the boundaries of thanatology, psychology, religion, spirituality, medical ethics and public health.

This groundbreaking reference for palliative care nurses is the first to provide realistic and achievable evidence-based methods for incorporating compassionate and humanistic care of the dying into current standards of practice. It builds on the author's research-based CARES Tool, a reference that synthesizes five key elements demonstrated to enable a peaceful death as free from suffering as possible: Comfort, Airway Management, Management of Restlessness and Delirium, Emotional and Spiritual Support, and Self-Care for Nurses. The book describes step-by-step how nurses can easily implement the basic tenets of the CARES Tool into their end-of-life practice. It provides a clearly defined plan that can be individualized for each patient and tailored to specific family needs, and facilitates caring for the dying in the most respectful and humane way possible. The book identifies the most common symptom management needs in dying patients and describes in detail the five components of the CARES paradigm and how to implement them to enable a peaceful death and minimize suffering. It includes palliative care prompts founded on 29 evidence-based recommendations and the National Consensus Project for Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines. The resource also addresses the importance of the nurse to act as a patient advocate, how to achieve compassionate communication with patient and family, and barriers and challenges to compassionate care. Additionally, the book discusses how to translate current research into effective practice, and how to practice self-care. Case studies emphasize the importance of compassionate nursing care of the dying and how it can be effectively achieved. Key Features: Provides nurses with clear understanding of the most common needs of the dying Supplies practical, evidence-based applications to facilitate and improve care of the dying Clarified the current and often complex literature on care of the dying Includes case studies illustrating the most common needs of dying patients and how these are addressed effectively by the CARES tool Based on extensive evidence as well as the National Consensus Project for Palliative Care Clinical Practice Guidelines.

This book provides a clear approach to establishing a user involvement system in a healthcare organisation and its potential impact on cancer services. Using a tool kit style approach drawing on examples of successful past projects and case studies to provide evidence of good practice it describes how to plan and implement different stages of user involvement enabling organisations to draw on user experience and expertise to evaluate develop and improve the quality of service that they provide. Members of regional cancer networks multidisciplinary cancer care teams and all those involved in the NHS cancer services will find this toolkit interesting reading.

Deckhead: An important examination of the theological, spiritual and ethical issues surrounding death.

What do faithful living and faithful dying mean as we near life's end? With all the technology and choices available to us today, making decisions about the end of life grows ever more difficult. As a result of all the theological and ethical issues that have arisen around the dying process in recent years, the 72nd General Convention of the Episcopal Church created a task force to study and report on these concerns. This is the report of the End-of-Life Task Force. In it, the Task Force responds to the broad range of theological, ethical, pastoral and policy issues that are generated by the need to provide loving and fitting care at the end of life.

Intended as a teaching document, Faithful Living, Faithful Dying will be useful as a discussion tool for the church, for individuals facing difficult decisions, for professionals, such as clergy and health care providers, and for those who make public policy.

Experiencing a parent or guardian with cancer is extremely difficult for children and adolescents with healthcare professionals and cancer support centres often lacking the specialised knowledge needed to also support these individuals. This practical guide provides a comprehensive and current understanding of the impact of parental cancer on children, young people and families. It offers a longitudinal account of the impact of cancer through the different stages of the illness and explores the impact of culture and international contexts on how families experience parental cancer. The book also crucially focuses on how to support children, young people and families by examining existing interventions. Important chapters on death and bereavement, and on self-care for practitioners also supplement the book. A valuable handbook for healthcare practitioners from a range of specialities working with patients and families affected by cancer, including clinical psychology, counselling, nursing, oncology, palliative care and social work.

Medical futility is a controversial issue not only in its definition but also in its application. There are few books on the subject, and those in existence mostly focus on the situation in the United States. This title, however, provides extensive international perspectives on medical futility.This book will benefit healthcare professionals as well as health policy makers around the world. It allows them to see how different countries approach the issue of medical futility and their experiences in dealing with this issue. The complexity of the issue, and in particular how some countries innovatively address it in an ethically sound manner, is clearly presented.

There are few enough studies of the needs of dying people in the Western world, but no accessible studies of the needs of dying people in Asian cultures. Now, in this pioneering work, Dr Mui Hing June Mak shows us how a Good Death expresses itself in Hong Kong, and also how this ideal varies and is modified in other Asian societies as this is observed in their own, often inaccessible literature. The author offers a comprehensive review of the literature on dying conduct and needs from several Asian perspectives, and also provides a perceptive analysis of the lessons to be learnt from her qualitative study which employed a 'Grounded Theory' methodology to understand the experiences and end-of-life needs of cancer patients in hospice care in Hong Kong. A relation-based theory, Harmonious Death, is developed. She also makes several suggestions to translate these theoretical concepts into practice. Dr Mak brings to her words not only the disciplined eye of a hospice clinician and academic but also a compassionate insight derived from her direct personal experiences. Close, personal relationship with three dying people were formative of her current research and professional interests, and also the driving concern in ensuring that the voices of all the participants in her study are heard clearly, sympathetically, and poignantly. Audience: The book will be of interest to teachers, students and professionals across the whole range of health and social care and social work, particularly those in palliative or hospice settings, as well as well as those with an interest in behavioural and social sciences, anthropology, philosophy, thanatology, not to mention the humanities. Contents: Foreword by Professor Allan Kellehear . literature review . Western and Chinese perspectives on death and dying . the research study . elements of a Good Death in Chinese culture: awareness of death; maintaining hope; freedom from pain and suffering; maintaining social relations; experiencing personal control; preparation and bidding farewell; accepting the timing of one's death A Harmonious Death, The Good Death models . Conclusions and recommendations for hospice philosophy, education, research and health policy

The fifth edition of this seminal reference and text in palliative care nursing helps the practitioner and student offer comprehensive, targeted interventions responsive to the needs of palliative and hospice patients and families. Based on the best level of evidence available, reference to clinical practice guidelines, and palliative care order sets to address critical symptoms, the knowledge presented in this edition supports compassionate, timely, appropriate and cost-effective care to achieve quality health outcomes for diverse palliative care populations across the illness trajectory. Noteworthy features of the new edition include broadening population health management by helping the reader to identify patterns and connections within and across population and utilize information to respond to the needs of populations. This strategy allows the reader to apply strategies that are consistent with IHI's Triple Aim that includes Improving the patient experience of care, Improving the health of populations and reducing the per capita cost of health care. Every Chapter in Sections 1, 2, and 3 includes an Evidence Based Box with a current study including a commentary written by someone from a discipline other than nursing or by an interdisciplinary team.

This educational workbook helps people who build compassionate relationships with dying people. Accompanied by its trainer's guide, it presents a comprehensive, sequential learning program for caregivers in non-medical capacities covering everything from self-understanding to spiritual issues, listening skills and expressive activities, developing the skills, awareness and resilience needed for this privileged and sensitive role. The program includes a variety of learning experiences, including large and small group activities, discussion, close reading, creative writing, self exploration, and skill development and practice. This is an invaluable resource for small groups of individuals who wish to volunteer in hospice or palliative care settings. A copy of the guide for trainers is included in each pack of workbooks, and is also freely available online. 'The best resource I have seen to guide teachers and learners in this complex training process. I predict that those of you who try it with your staffs and trainees will find that it bears fruit both for your patients and their families, but also for the sustenance and personal development of the staff members themselves.' Timothy Quill, M.D., in his Foreword

This enlightening volume provides first-hand perspectives and ethnographic research on communication at the end of life, a topic that has gone largely understudied in communication literature. Author Elissa Foster' s own experiences as a volunteer hospice caregiver form the basis of the book. "Communicating at the End of Life" recounts the stories of Foster and six other volunteers and their communicative experiences with dying patients, using communication theory and research findings to identify insights on the relationships they form throughout the process. What unfolds is a scholarly examination of a subject that is significant to every individual at some point in the life process.
Organized chronologically to follow the course of Foster' s involvement with hospice and the phases of the study, the book opens with Part 1, providing background and contextual information to help readers understand subsequent stories about communication between volunteers and patients. Part 2 of the volume emphasizes the adjustments required by the volunteers as they entered the world of hospice and the worlds of the patients. Part 3 underscores the importance of improvisation and finding balance within the role of volunteer-- in particular how to be fully present for patients as well as their family members. The volume concludes with Part 4, which addresses how volunteers coped with the death of their patients and what they learned from the experience of volunteering.
"Communicating at the End of Life "is appropriate for scholars and advanced students studying personal relationships, health communication, gerontology, interpersonal communication, lifespancommunication, and communication & aging. Its unique content offers precious and meaningful insights on the communication processes at a critical point in the life process.

The needs of critically ill children are unique and highly specialized. "Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing" is an essential manual of care and an invaluable resource to all those involved in the care of critically ill children and young people. Covering all the key aspects of pediatric intensive care, it is a fully comprehensive textbook which provides an evidence-based and up-to-date guide for all nurses who work with critically ill children.

"Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing" is divided into four user-friendly sections: The first section looks at the general background of paediatric intensive careSection two employs a systems approach, with each chapter focusing on a specific disease and following the same framework. This includes treating children with cardiac conditions, acute neurological dysfunction, musculoskeletal injuries and gastrointestinal and endocrine conditionsSection three looks at the essential care of managing pain relief, transportation needs and treating woundsThe final section explores the holistic aspects of nursing - nutrition and fluid management, infection control issues, safeguarding children and spirituality and bereavement

Written by a team of experts in the field, "Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing" is indispensable reading for nurses and health care professionals working with critically ill children.