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Home-Care Nurses' Experience With Medication Kit in Palliative Care
Katrine Staats1, Oscar Tranvåg, Ellen Karine Grov
1Katrine Staats, MClinNurs, RN, is PhD student, Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Norway. Oscar Tranvåg, PhD, MScN, PMHNP, RN, is associate professor, Centre for Elderly and Nursing Home Medicine, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen; Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Women's Health, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Norway; and Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal. Ellen Karine Grov, PhD, MScN, RN, is professor, Institute of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway.
Home-care nurses found the Norwegian medication kit improved symptom management for terminally ill patients. Thorough planning and physician collaboration were key to its effective use in palliative home care.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care
- Nursing Practice
- Symptom Management
Background:
- Home-care nurses support advanced cancer patients wishing to die at home.
- Effective symptom management is crucial for terminally ill patients in home settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore home-care nurses' experiences with the Norwegian medication kit for symptom management in terminally ill patients.
- To understand how the medication kit facilitates or hinders palliative home care.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative, descriptive, and explorative design using hermeneutic methodology.
- Data collected through two focus group interviews and four in-depth interviews with home-care nurses.
Main Results:
- Nurses reported that thorough planning and clear instructions enhanced medication kit security and proper use.
- Effective collaboration with primary physicians, including accessible communication and clarifying meetings, was essential.
- Past infrequent use and nurses working alone in patient assessment and medication administration created challenging professional conditions, especially at night.
Conclusions:
- Clear guidelines, proactive planning, and collaborative meetings with primary physicians are vital for facilitating the effective use of medication kits in home-care palliative settings.
- Addressing challenges in medication kit utilization can improve the professional conditions for home-care nurses and enhance patient care.
- The Norwegian medication kit, when used with proper support and planning, can be a valuable tool in managing symptoms for the terminally ill at home.