Elements and Performance Criteria
- Recognise the special needs of clients requiring a palliative approach to care
- Undertake a holistic assessment of the client in consultation/collaboration with a registered nurse
- Apply the principles of palliative care and the palliative approach
- Work with knowledge of pathophysiological changes associated with a life-limiting illness and an understanding of the needs of clients with such an illness
- Discuss with the client/family/carer the impact of life-limiting illness on their activities of daily living
- Use an understanding of the physiology of dying to support clients and family as they experience the dying process
- Ascertain and respect client needs in relation to lifestyle, social context, emotional and spiritual choices and document these in line with care plan
- Support the client, carer, his/her family and/or significant other to ensure their freedom to discuss spiritual and cultural issues in an open and non-judgmental way within scope of own practice and responsibilities
- Work with an awareness of psychosocial impact of palliative care on a client's family and significant others
- Contribute to the care plan for the client at end-of-life
- Develop an individualised care plan in consultation/collaboration with a registered nurse
- Work in consultation/collaboration with other members of the health care team in providing care
- Provide emotional support to client and family through effective communication
- Address the legal and ethical implications of implementing advanced care directives
- Monitor changes to advanced caredirectives as they are reviewed regularly by appropriate staff member and support implementation of these changes
- Implement nursing interventions for clients with life-limiting illness
- Provide care according to the developed care plan, documenting and reporting any changes
- Perform nursing interventions to manage activities of daily living or complications of life-limiting illness in consultation/collaboration with a registered nurse
- Provide a supportive environment to the client, family, carer and those involved in end-of-life care
- Ensure that information provided to client, family and/or carer is accurate, timely and respects the wishes of client and/or family
- Document and promptly report observations of pain and other discomforts to appropriate member of staff
- Support the dignity of the client in undertaking all activities at end-of-life as well as after death
- Identify and report to appropriate member of staff any signs of deterioration or imminent death in line with health care guidelines
- Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of planned interventions
- Modify nursing interventions to suit client responses in consultation/collaboration with registered nurse
- Monitor and document client responses to nursing interventions
- Evaluate, document and report effectiveness of implemented strategies that address client needs
- Reflect on any ethical issues or concerns and discuss with appropriate person if necessary
- Provide support and services to client and family at end-of-life and after death
- Identify, access and/or discuss resources available for self, client, family requiring bereavement care
- Refer grieving family to appropriate counselling resources as required
- Undertake care of the body with dignity and respect taking into account the individual customs, culture, religion, spiritual practices and choices of clients