RUBBERBALL

CPD reflective account

End of life care A CPD article enhanced Constance Nkechika’s knowledge of the variety of strategies for providing the best end of life care Caring for those who are dying and their families is a challenging aspect of nursing practice. The article was interesting and relevant to my work delivering effective care to patients in the last few days of life in the care home setting. The aim of end of life care is to achieve a dignified death, preferably in a place of the patient’s choosing. Good communication is vital if a patient and his or her relatives’ wishes are to be acknowledged and respected. After reading this article I understand the scope for improving end of life care for adults such as having an agreed action plan. Reading about the different steps in the end of life care strategy has increased my knowledge of providing best care for individuals and their families. Discussing end of life care and death with patients and their families is an important part of providing quality care. Caring for

patients and their families takes compassion, understanding, effective communication and empathy, as well as accurate assessment and symptom management. Caring for the individual at the end of life also involves caring for the family. The article highlighted symptoms that are associated with the end of life, including nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite and pain. Each person will have different symptoms depending on the condition and its management. These symptoms may be distressing to both the patient

This reflective account is based on NS738 Sherwen E (2014) Improving end of life care for adults. Nursing Standard. 28, 32, 51-57.

and his or her family. Managing symptoms, including pain, is an important part of end of life care. It is essential that healthcare professionals work together to manage symptoms effectively and promote patient comfort. The nurse’s professional responsibility does not end when the person dies. End of life care involves treating the body with the same respect the individual was given in life. For family members, memories of the death, and of the person who has died, may be affected by the way in which the body of their loved one is treated. While all healthcare professionals encounter stressful situations in the workplace, some staff are better than others at dealing with the complex care involved in caring for a patient at the end of life. It is important to provide support to staff when required to reduce the stress of end of life care. Having read the article, I intend to improve my practice in end of life care by providing timely management of pain and by developing my skills in compassionate listening and counselling. Since I work in a care setting, I will also strive to achieve an understanding of specific end of life issues from the perspective of each patient and his or her family, and offer appropriate support NS Constance Nkechika is a nurse at Ashcroft Care Home, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire

Write your own reflective account You can gain a certificate of learning by reading a Nursing Standard CPD article and writing a reflective account. Turn to page 50 for this week’s article and on page 60 you can find out how to present and submit your reflective account.

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End of life care.

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