Hospice Concepts


Book Description

A comprehensive yet succinct overview of hospice care. The book covers everything from hospice philosophy to Medicare regulations, from criteria for determining prognosis to dealing with grief and bereavement. Recommendations focus on identifying and limiting futile treatments; on pursuing opportunities to better understand the pathophysiology of physical and emotional symptoms in patients with life-threatening illness; and on providing reliable, effective, and humane care at this point in the normal cycle of life. Ideal for orientation of new hospice or palliative care staff. The book is useful for self-study and group training or as a text for related college courses. Chapter tests and answer keys are included in two appendixes.




Key Concepts in Palliative Care


Book Description

Taking account of the British government's "End of Life Care Strategy", contributors set out the key issues affecting practice across a range of health and social care contexts. The book covers topics ranging from dying and death to symptom management and spiritual care, backed up with practical examples. Each entry comprises: a snapshot definition of the topic, key points, a discussion of the main debates, links to practice through thought-provoking case histories, and suggestions for further reading.




Hospice and Palliative Care for Companion Animals


Book Description

Hospice and Palliative Care for Companion Animals: Principles and Practice offers the first comprehensive reference to veterinary hospice and palliative care, with practical guidance and best practices for caring for sick and dying animals. Presents the first thorough resource to providing veterinary hospice and palliative care Offers practical guidance and best practices for caring for sick and dying animals Provides an interdisciplinary team approach, from a variety of different perspectives Gives concrete advice for easing pets more gently through their final stage of life Includes access to a companion website with client education handouts to use in practice




A History of Palliative Care, 1500-1970


Book Description

This book on the history of palliative care, 1500-1970 traces the historical roots of modern palliative care in Europe to the rise of the hospice movement in the 1960s. The author discusses largely forgotten premodern concepts like cura palliativa and euthanasia medica and describes, how patients and physicians experienced and dealt with terminal illness. He traces the origins of hospitals for incurable and dying patients and follows the long history of ethical debates on issues like truth-telling and the intentional shortening of the dying patients’ lives and the controversies they sparked between physicians and patients. An eye opener for anyone interested in the history of ethical decision making regarding terminal care of critically ill patients.




Ethnogeriatrics


Book Description

This volume is divided into five parts and fifteen chapters that address these topics by examining ethnogeriatric foundations, research issues, clinical care in ethnogeriatrics, education and policy. Expertly written chapters, by practicing geriatricians, gerontologists, clinician researchers and clinician educators, present a systematic approach to recognizing, analyzing and addressing the challenges of meeting the healthcare needs of a diverse population and authors discuss ways in which to engage the community by increasing research participation and by investigating the most prevalent diseases found in ethnic minorities. Ethnogeriatrics discusses issues related to working with culturally diverse elders that tend not to be addressed in typical training curricula and is essential reading for geriatricians, hospitalists, advance practice nurses, social workers and others who are part of a multidisciplinary team that provides high quality care to older patients.




Fast Facts for the Hospice Nurse


Book Description

An on-the-go reference for hospice nurses and those interested in end-of-life care, this practical guide covers the essential elements in the compassionate and holistic care of terminally ill patients and their families. Nurses care for patients facing end-of-life issues in every practice specialty and, as the U.S. population continues to age, the need for proficiency in end-of-life skills will become increasingly important. Fast Facts for the Hospice Nurse: A Concise Guide to End-of-Life Care is an invaluable resource that provides emotional, administrative, and palliative support, whether in a hospice, long-term care facility, or acute care setting. This vital go-to text clearly and concisely lays out not only how to care for patients facing end-of-life issues, but also how to engage in self-care and cope with occupational stress. Beginning with an overview of hospice care, including its history and philosophy, this book offers a timeline of the growth of the hospice movement in the United States. Subsequent sections include up-to-date information on the clinical responsibilities of the hospice nurse in addressing the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families in a culturally sensitive way. This book also outlines the administrative duties of the hospice nurse, including hospice documentation, a review of hospice regulations, and quality management. The closing section focuses on occupational stress in hospice nursing and how to engage in self-care. This text can serve as a useful clinical resource and also as a reference for nurses seeking hospice certification from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center. Key Features Organized within the context of the scope and standards of practice of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association. Addresses key points about issues unique to hospice nursing and highlights evidence-based interventions Addresses important Medicare regulations and reimbursement Offers numerous clinical resources to assist with hospice nursing practice Serves as a concise study resource for hospice nursing certification




Innovations in Hospice Architecture


Book Description

Providing much-needed focus on hospice projects in the context of unprecedented rates of societal ageing, this new reference book presents an overview of major recent developments in this rapidly evolving building type. The authors present an overview of the historical origins of the contemporary hospice and the diverse variations on the basic premise of hospice care, and offer a series of case studies of exemplary hospices. The most innovative work in this area over the past decade has been in Japan, the US, Canada and the UK, and the authors describe and analyze examples both as individual projects and as comparable yet differing approaches. Hospice Architecture will be essential reading for anyone involved in the planning, design and construction of hospices.




Humanistic Nursing


Book Description

Out of necessity nursing, as a profession, reflects the qualities of the culture in which it exists. In our culture for the past quarter of a century nursing has been assailed with rapid economic, technological, shortage- abundance, changing scenes' vicissitudes. In the individual nurse these arouse turmoil and uncertainty. These cultural stirrings inflame that part of the nurse's spirit capable of chaotic conflict and doubt. Often she questions her professional identity. ''Just what is a nurse?" Her nurse colleagues, other professionals, and nonprofessionals freely, directly and indirectly-on television, in the theater, through the news media and the literature-pummel her with their multitudinous varied views.




Approaching Death


Book Description

When the end of life makes its inevitable appearance, people should be able to expect reliable, humane, and effective caregiving. Yet too many dying people suffer unnecessarily. While an "overtreated" dying is feared, untreated pain or emotional abandonment are equally frightening. Approaching Death reflects a wide-ranging effort to understand what we know about care at the end of life, what we have yet to learn, and what we know but do not adequately apply. It seeks to build understanding of what constitutes good care for the dying and offers recommendations to decisionmakers that address specific barriers to achieving good care. This volume offers a profile of when, where, and how Americans die. It examines the dimensions of caring at the end of life: Determining diagnosis and prognosis and communicating these to patient and family. Establishing clinical and personal goals. Matching physical, psychological, spiritual, and practical care strategies to the patient's values and circumstances. Approaching Death considers the dying experience in hospitals, nursing homes, and other settings and the role of interdisciplinary teams and managed care. It offers perspectives on quality measurement and improvement, the role of practice guidelines, cost concerns, and legal issues such as assisted suicide. The book proposes how health professionals can become better prepared to care well for those who are dying and to understand that these are not patients for whom "nothing can be done."




Hospice and Palliative Care


Book Description

Offers a comprehensive overview of the practice of hospice, as well as the challenges faced by and the direction of the hospice movement. This book provides chapters that address key topics such as the goals and importance of community involvement, outcome measurement, and the manner in which hospices address death, grief, and bereavement.