Careers
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Hospice nurse and clinical team leader Fiona Lyon describes the attractions and challenges of providing respite and end of life care for children and young people
PERSONALISED APPROACH Clients with a wide range of conditions come to Naomi House, for children aged under 16, and Jacksplace, for children aged over 16, in need of respite and end of life care. I became aware of these hospices when referring patients from the NHS hospital ward I worked on. I needed a new challenge and wanted a return to providing care. In my current role I have learned end of life symptom management to relieve pain and discomfort. I also took a level 3 certificate in end of life care after working here for two years. The most formative career experience I have had was caring for a teenager. He had specific requests that we were able to fulfil, and his family’s strength and faith left a lasting impression on me. He swam with them one last time and held a tea party before dying peacefully with his family around him. The best thing about my job is giving personalised care. Each child and young person has an individual care plan detailing every part of their daily
Fiona Lyon: ‘A smile, whether it is on the face of a child or a member of staff, is hugely satisfying’
Different clients with different needs Clients who come to the Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices range in age from newborns to those in their late twenties. Staff may know them from early childhood until their death, but some come as referrals at end of life. Conditions include: Genetic conditions such as Rett syndrome or Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Trauma, for example severe brain injury after an accident. Acquired conditions such as leukaemia or brain tumours that are no longer treatable.
NURSING STANDARD
activities. Another attraction is being able to make end of life a personal journey. It is rewarding getting to know, and being able to support, the families.
Medical information
One challenge is that information is primarily supplied by the parents or guardians. Often medication labels are incorrect and we rarely have a current medication listing from the client’s GP. We are requesting more information from health professionals to confirm current prescriptions and protocols for particular care such as epilepsy. With advances in medicine we are seeing more clients with complex care needs who previously would not have survived. More are living with the use of long-term ventilation. Our staff receive regular training and clinical supervision to learn
how to care for these clients, and continue to offer the activities and fun that we aim to provide. I also lead a team of 12 nurses and carers, supporting them in delivering that care. The multidisciplinary team includes family support workers and play therapists, and we have doctors who visit daily. We have team days twice a year in which we catch up with changes in care in our organisation, and try to fit in team-building exercises. I do appraisals, ensure my staff maintain statutory training requirements and help them extend their role with training. My priority is providing personalised care. However, this – and ensuring our staff are supported with training – can be difficult. Palliative care requires special skills and recruitment should ensure people are aware of the likely challenges. I enjoy a challenge, though, and my role is so rewarding. A smile, whether it is on the face of a child or a member of staff, is hugely satisfying NS Fiona Lyon is a nurse and clinical team leader at Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospices in Winchester RESOURCES Naomi House and Jacksplace www.naomihouse.org.uk Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance on working with young people tinyurl.com/ NMCWWYP A Guide to End of Life Care tinyurl.com/pgsaw67 april 30 :: vol 28 no 35 :: 2014 71
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If you would like to write for our careers section email the editor at [email protected]
Hospice nurse and clinical team leader Fiona Lyon describes the attractions and challenges of providing respite and end of life care for children and young people
PERSONALISED APPROACH Clients with a wide range of conditions come to Naomi House, for children aged under 16, and Jacksplace, for children aged over 16, in need of respite and end of life care. I became aware of these hospices when referring patients from the NHS hospital ward I worked on. I needed a new challenge and wanted a return to providing care. In my current role I have learned end of life symptom management to relieve pain and discomfort. I also took a level 3 certificate in end of life care after working here for two years. The most formative career experience I have had was caring for a teenager. He had specific requests that we were able to fulfil, and his family’s strength and faith left a lasting impression on me. He swam with them one last time and held a tea party before dying peacefully with his family around him. The best thing about my job is giving personalised care. Each child and young person has an individual care plan detailing every part of their daily
Fiona Lyon: ‘A smile, whether it is on the face of a child or a member of staff, is hugely satisfying’
Different clients with different needs Clients who come to the Naomi House and Jacksplace hospices range in age from newborns to those in their late twenties. Staff may know them from early childhood until their death, but some come as referrals at end of life. Conditions include: Genetic conditions such as Rett syndrome or Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Trauma, for example severe brain injury after an accident. Acquired conditions such as leukaemia or brain tumours that are no longer treatable.
NURSING STANDARD
activities. Another attraction is being able to make end of life a personal journey. It is rewarding getting to know, and being able to support, the families.
Medical information
One challenge is that information is primarily supplied by the parents or guardians. Often medication labels are incorrect and we rarely have a current medication listing from the client’s GP. We are requesting more information from health professionals to confirm current prescriptions and protocols for particular care such as epilepsy. With advances in medicine we are seeing more clients with complex care needs who previously would not have survived. More are living with the use of long-term ventilation. Our staff receive regular training and clinical supervision to learn
how to care for these clients, and continue to offer the activities and fun that we aim to provide. I also lead a team of 12 nurses and carers, supporting them in delivering that care. The multidisciplinary team includes family support workers and play therapists, and we have doctors who visit daily. We have team days twice a year in which we catch up with changes in care in our organisation, and try to fit in team-building exercises. I do appraisals, ensure my staff maintain statutory training requirements and help them extend their role with training. My priority is providing personalised care. However, this – and ensuring our staff are supported with training – can be difficult. Palliative care requires special skills and recruitment should ensure people are aware of the likely challenges. I enjoy a challenge, though, and my role is so rewarding. A smile, whether it is on the face of a child or a member of staff, is hugely satisfying NS Fiona Lyon is a nurse and clinical team leader at Naomi House and Jacksplace Hospices in Winchester RESOURCES Naomi House and Jacksplace www.naomihouse.org.uk Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance on working with young people tinyurl.com/ NMCWWYP A Guide to End of Life Care tinyurl.com/pgsaw67 april 30 :: vol 28 no 35 :: 2014 71
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