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Palliative care in district general hospitals: the nurse's perspective
Mary McDonnell1, Gail Johnston, Anthony G Gallagher
1Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
International Journal of Palliative Nursing
|June 6, 2002
Summary
Registered nurses in hospitals see palliative care as integral but are dissatisfied with the setting. They lack confidence in psychosocial support and face barriers like inadequate training and work pressures.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Nursing
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Most patients with terminal illnesses die in hospitals, yet their primary caregivers' perspectives are often overlooked.
- Palliative care within district general hospitals is crucial for end-of-life patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate registered nurses' perceptions of palliative care in district general hospitals.
- To identify challenges and barriers faced by nurses in providing optimal palliative care on general wards.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted using a pre-piloted questionnaire.
- A random sample of 263 registered nurses from district general hospitals participated.
Main Results:
- 70% of nurses believe managing end-of-life care is part of hospital duties.
- Only 8% consider hospitals ideal for dying patients, reflecting dissatisfaction.
- Nurses are confident in clinical roles but struggle with psychosocial aspects and discussing death with patients.
Conclusions:
- Barriers to optimal palliative care include insufficient education/training, work pressures, and lack of support from medical staff and management.
- Addressing these barriers is essential to improve end-of-life care in hospital settings.