District nurse role in end-stage COPD: a review.
District Nurses (DNs) are core providers of end-stage care in the community but appear to have little contact with patients suffering from non-malignant diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review found limited literature describing the role of DNs in end-stage COPD care, and the studies that did touch on the subject restricted their discourse to the frequency of interaction. A clear bias of end-of-life services to patients with malignancy was noted, as well as a call for community services to extend care to all end-stage patients regardless of underlying disease. In addition, there was a further call for DNs to apply a more holistic approach to care, as described in the literature. Finally, it was clear that while ongoing community intervention is necessary for end-stage COPD patients, support and training is essential to equip DNs to care for these vulnerable patients.
Disler
Rebecca
R
Faculty of Nursing, Health and Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney. Rebecca.Disler@uts.edu.au
Jones
Anne
A
D002983:Clinical Competence; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006694:Holistic Health; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015399:Nursing Research; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011637:Public Health Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000451:nursing*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration*