The pharmacology of palliative care.
Various medications are available for symptom management during palliative care of the neonate. Neonatal nurses are knowledgeable about the use of these agents as a part of curative care and should become familiar with them as an essential aspect of palliative care. Pharmacologic symptom management is only one facet of peaceful, pain-free, family-centered palliative care. For an overview of a complete protocol for end-of-life care for neonates and their families, review Catlin and Carter's article, "Creation of a Neonatal End-of-Life Palliative Care Protocol," which appeared in an earlier issue of Neonatal Network (Vol. 21, No. 4).
Bell
Susan Givens
SG
NICU, All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives