Rethinking and integrating nephrology palliative care: a nephrology nursing perspective.
Mortality rates for people with chronic kidney disease are worse than most cancers. High symptom burden, multiple comorbidities and advanced age are common among people receiving renal care. It is, therefore, not surprising that among the nephrology community, awareness is growing regarding the need for nephrology palliative care. This article offers a perspective of the current "state of the art" of nephrology palliative care and its relationship to nephrology nursing. A literature review and communication with experts in the field inform this perspective. Understanding the emerging field of nephrology palliative care gives nephrology nurses a clearer position from which to rethink their role in integrating nephrology and palliative care. Implementing compassionate, ethical and effective palliative care for patients and families living with kidney disease offers hope for improved quality of living and of dying for these patients and their families, and for the renal professionals who care for them.
Providence Health Care-St. Paul's Hospital Renal Program, Vancouver, BC. sueyoung@telus.net
Susan
S
Young
D032722:Advance Care Planning; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001601:Bereavement; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D009398:Nephrology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*