The bringing together in this book of palliative care nursing, which is relevant to patients at all stages of illness and disease, and end of life care was a deliberate intention to demonstrate the interdependency that both forms of care have with each other. As the editors Jane Nicol and Brian Nyatanga suggest, the sometimes long journey from diagnosis to the end of life requires complex and personalised care and this excellent book provides a comprehensive resource for all aspects of this important aspect of nursing. The book is enriched by contributions from Jean Fisher, Hazel Luckhurst, Sherri Ogston-Tuck and Helen Taylor who are experienced experts and academics.
Beginning with discussions on determining the scope of holistic palliative care that is conveyed, not only to patients, but to their family and those important to them, the book continues by exploring the essential features of communicating with dying patients and their family or carers.
It is impossible not to acknowledge that loss, in its many forms associated with illness whether long term or sudden, dying and death are emotive subjects and can generate a deep sense of hurt and grief. The authors explore these feelings sensitively and professionally through analysis and theoretical models which will help the reader support and guide patients and their families or carers through the labyrinth of these powerful emotions.
The multicultural nature of the UK population constitutes the fabric of our modern society and the nurse's role in palliative and end of life care requires a sensitivity and understanding of different cultural mores. In this book the concepts underpinning culture and the need to be culturally aware and competent to care for patients from different cultural backgrounds is a crucial component and thoughtfully explored.
Dealing with death in any setting is distressing, and the authors take a deeper look at this in a critical care setting where the death significandy contradicts the main purpose of such a unit which is focussed on sustaining life at all costs. This delicate situation is explored in-depth and is a unique feature, distinguishing this text from others in the field.
Ethical considerations and dilemmas are ever present in caring and in particular at the end of life phase. In the final chapters insights into these dilemmas and legal aspects of care are explored using case studies and practical case analysis to assist the reader in untangling this complex moral and ethical topic.
In this book, the Transforming Nursing Practice series has again provided a detailed and comprehensive guide into a fundamental element of nursing care. The book offers a thoughtful and in-depth source of information, theory and research for nursing students or qualified nurses who wish to review their skills and knowledge in a topic that is ever present in our work. Professor Shirley Bach Series Editor

About the authors viii

Foreword x

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction 1

1 The idea of life, living, dying and death 4

Brian Nyatanga

2 Holistic patient care in palliative and end of life care 22

Jane Nicol

3 Communication in palliative and end of life care 46

Jean Fisher

4 Exploring loss, grief and bereavement 65

Jane Nicol

5 Exploring the impact of cultural issues in palliative and end of life care 87

Brian Nyatanga

6 Ethical issues in palliative and end of life care 104

Sherri Ogston-Tuck

7 Palliative and end of life care in a critical care setting 122

Hazel Luckhursl

8 Legal aspects of palliative and end of life care 137

Helen Taylor

References 157

Index 166

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