Palliative care: From oncology to all nursing arenas - Good practice or scaring the patients?

The aim of this paper is to encourage critical discussion of an individual's understanding of palliative care and compare this with a health care professional's understanding of palliative care. In doing this, the paper serves to illustrate the importance of words attached to services - so with palliative care - are we providing good care, or scaring the patients? The paper touches on the historical origins of palliative care as an adjunct of oncology, to a specialism in its own right and now as an integral part of all care - in a 'generalist palliative care nurse'. However, it is unlikely that patients and their families are aware of such developments and will see palliative care services as immediate end of life care. It is argued that whatever your thoughts on the use of the term 'palliative care', it is important to understand what has resonance for patients. You may not agree with this paper, and I do not expect all of you to agree, but I hope it has made you think. For those who strongly disagree, take heart from a quote by Frank A. Clark (1860-1936) 'We find comfort among those who agree with us - growth among those who don't'.