Past Issues: Vol 1 Issue 3 - Winter 2011
Clinical review
Faecal incontinence in advanced dementia: the nursing role
Published: 2011 Vol: 1 No: 3
Faecal incontinence is one of the prognostic indicators for the terminal stages of dementia. However, there is minimal information on this distressing symptom in the context of cognitive decline. Faecal incontinence in dementia is often under-reported, under-estimated and poorly assessed and managed, despite being a potentially treatable condition. It has a profound negative impact on the...
Clinical review
Heart-failure patients' thoughts and fears concerning dying
Published: 2011 Vol: 1 No: 3
Patients with heart failure experience a variety of reactions to living with a chronic yet terminal disease. These range from acceptance of death to fear of death. Heart-failure patients have a high symptom burden, which adversely affects their quality of life. Patients are very concerned about the burden that their disease places on their informal caregivers. Such concerns can influence their...
Clinical skills
Communication Vignettes: 'You must get her out of bed, nurse!'
Published: 2011 Vol: 1 No: 3
Introduction
The advanced stages of disease can be associated with a great deal of distress for patients and their loved ones (Lobb et al, 2006; Murray et al, 2010; Candy et al, 2011). For example, families/friends of terminally ill people can become confused, fearful, experience despair and helplessness (Maher and Hemming, 2005) and feel very isolated (Thomas et al, 2002). When people are in...
Clinical practice development
Incorporating spirituality in end-of-life nursing care
Published: 2011 Vol: 1 No: 3
The palliative approach to care involves individual, holistic, continuous assessment of physical, psychological, spiritual and social problems. The aim is to identify adverse symptoms and associated distress and then to identify measures to help alleviate those symptoms. Spiritual distress at the end of life has the potential to impinge on physical and psychosocial wellbeing, thereby decreasing...
Professional issues
Challenges of domiciliary carers when providing end-of-life care
Published: 2011 Vol: 1 No: 3
Given the choice, most people would prefer to be cared for and die at home, if they are assured of high-quality care and proper support for their families/carers. Domiciliary care workers play a large role in the care of terminally ill people at home. However, the experiences of patients and their informal carers regarding domiciliary care can be variable. The training needs of domiciliary care...