Palliative Care for Hospice Patients: Nursing Interventions and Strategies

CARE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS
Introduction:
The assignment focuses on the palliative care provided to the hospice patient. The hospice
patient is under my supervision. The patient as well as the family members are in a distressed
condition. Nursing interventions should focus on person centered care and family centered care
that needs to be implemented. The family members of the hospice patient is under distress. As a
nurse, I need to take care of the patient along with the family members. I need to apply certain
nursing strategies that would help to improve the mental state of the patient and the family
members. Since the patient is terminally ill, I need to provide palliative care. PICOT method is
used to segregate the requirements of the patient. This helps the nurses to focus on each
individual sectors of the nursing care plan. The type of database used for the search is mentioned.
The search strategy to be used in the database is provided. The inclusion and exclusion criteria is
used to make our search strategy for focused and productive.
Formulation of four components of PICOT
Table 1:
Picot question: What is the mental condition of family care givers and how will I provide
palliative care to the hospice patient?
Patient Intervention Comparison Outcome
Patient is greatly
impacted by the
disease as well as the
Rehabilitation
programs and acute
care can be delivered
The mental condition
of the patient as well
as the family
Hospice care
provides comfort and
relaxed surroundings

CARE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS
treatment procedure.
Since the patient is
suffering from a
terminal disease,
there will be many
side effects like
altered mental
condition, depression,
fatigue, nausea and
many more.
for terminally ill
patients. Physical,
psychological, social
and spiritual care is
of utmost importance
for these palliative
care patients. Quality
time and spiritual
thoughts are also
shared with the
family members so
that they are able to
accept the dying of
their beloved. They
are mentally
distressed and lack
the ability to take any
meaningful decision.
The patient needs
person centered care.
members are very
critical as compared
to the other families.
The patient is
suffering from a
terminally ill disease
and will have a
greater impact on the
families. Other
patients might be
suffering from
chronic diseases that
does not impact much
on the mental health
of the family
members. The mental
condition worsens for
the terminally ill
patient and their
family members.
to the patient. The
goal is to provide
minimum pain,
discomfort and
restriction to the
patient. A
coordinated
multidisciplinary
approach helps to
reduce and overcome
the anxiety, fear and
depression of the
patient and the family
members. It also
encourages the family
members to
participate in the
caring of the patient.
The patient gets a
feeling of warmth
and security. The
patient will feel
secured and

CARE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS
experience a satisfied
death.
Database identification for literature search
Table 2:
Databases used Pubmed
Cinahl
Cinahl database is used for literature search
Search strategies for finding relevant literature
Table 3:
Search Strategies Explanation
Filters applied  The search should only be in English
Language
 The country should be selected as
Australia. It will include the papers of
Australian scholars. It will focus on
the hospice patients of Australia and
since my patient is terminally ill, it
will help me to implement the
required interventions.