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Guides you through the principles of palliative care, enabling you to apply these principles to your practice and reflect on and evaluate the palliative care you provide
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Details the roles of the health care assistant (HCA) within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) in providing collaborative, quality palliative care to patients and their families
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Examines the need for holistic palliative care services across the lifespan and, in particular, for common chronic illness
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Illustrates how the HCA can promote activities of daily living as part of an agreed person-centred palliative care plan, to support life quality, self-esteem, respect, privacy and dignity
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Defines pain, and its symptoms, assessment and management, to include both pharmacological and non-pharmacological relief from pain
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Describes the common symptoms experienced by patients receiving end-of-life care and how prompt assessment and appropriate management of these can improve quality of life
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Introduces spirituality within the context of palliative care and presents practical information to provide a meaningful contribution to the welfare, values and beliefs of the patient
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Explains how effective communication between the HCA, MDT, the patient and their family is essential to the delivery of quality and compassionate palliative care
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Explores some ethical issues that may be encountered in your role of HCA
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Presents dying as a normal process and, using evidence-based theories and models, reveals the many responses to bereavement and the varying supports required to manage and cope with the bereavement process.
THE AUTHORS
Anita Duffy is a Nurse Tutor in Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services Harold’s Cross, Dublin and Adjunct Lecturer/Assistant Professor in University College Dublin.
Noreen Holland is an Assistant Director of Nursing for Palliative Care in Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services Harold’s Cross, Dublin and Adjunct Lecturer/Assistant Professor in University College Dublin.