Palliative Care Papers

Palliative care is a new topic that I am learning about this semester. Initially, when I would think of palliative care I would think of the nurse who was taking care of someone in there last hours. I identified palliative and hospice care as the same service. I now understand palliative care as the care one receives after you are no longer trying to cure a disease, but are treating to provide comfort as the disease progresses. Palliative care takes place for an undefined amount of time. Whereas, hospice care is for those patients who are terminally ill and whom have a life expectancy of 6 months or less. From a nursing perspective I believe the commonalities between these two types of care are the methods of coping taught to patients, pain management, planning end of life (EOL) care, and honoring the patients’ and families wishes.
Although, patient care involves
It feels morally wrong to take the autonomy away from a patient whom has chose an EOL plan and the advanced directives they wanted honored. As a nurse I will be able to honor the patient and families wishes. The hardest part is dealing with the moral dilemmas that may affect me on a personal level based on the patient and families choices. In conclusion, I have learned a lot about palliative care and the various aspects it encompasses. I have identified my personal beliefs and the moral and ethical barriers that may arise in patient care. I am learning to put my own beliefs and values aside to facilitate patient centered care in the clinical setting. I know that the knowledge and self-awareness I have gained in palliative care will facilitate me in providing optimal care and education to patients in the clinical