3.9.1 Pallicative care link nurse role in nursing homes (140)
Evelyn Whittaker, Hospice Nurse Specialist, Community Services, Northern Ireland Hospice, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom Co authors: Felicity Hasson, George Kernohan, Mary Waldron & Dorry McLoughlin
Abstract:
Background:
Facilitated and supported by a specialist team, the link nurse aims to bridge the theory practice gap thus enhancing the standard of care. Whilst the development of the link nurse initiative is widely advocated in helping to cascade good practice, research into the development and implementation of this role is lacking.
Aim:
To describe the experience, barriers and facilitators to the development and implementation of the role of a palliative care link nurse system in nursing home settings.
Methods:
A qualitative study was conducted with a purposive sample of fourteen link nurses from ten nursing homes during 2004-2006. Focus groups were used to collect the data, which were subject to content analysis.
Results:
Findings revealed the potential for a link nurse system to enhance palliative care within nursing home environments; however the success of a link nurse system in the nursing home environment was not straightforward and was dependent upon a number of internal and external factors. For example, specialist support, access to resource files, development of support networks, management support, preparation for the role and ongoing funding were cited.
Discussion:
The delivery of palliative care in the nursing home setting is strongly advocated; these results highlight the benefits of a palliative care link nurse system to increase knowledge and skills among staff. However, the complexity of the care environment, the level of expertise of care staff, and ongoing management support all need to be taken into account when developing a link nurse programme.
Conclusion:
Whilst this study shows that the concept of a link nurse can improve care for residents in nursing homes, consideration must be given to the type of care environment within which the system is being implemented. This experience could be used to help others in the development of the link nurse system.
Recommended reading list:
- Cotterell, P., Lynch, C. & Peters, D. (2007). Bridging the gap: can a link nurse initiative influence palliative care in an acute hospital? International Journal of Palliative Nursing 13(3), 102-108
- Department of Health (2005). The National Service framework for long-term conditions, London, Department of Health
- Wowchuk, S., McClement, S. & Bond, J. (2006). The challenge of providing palliative care in the nursing home: part 1 external factors. International Journal of Palliative nursing 12(6), 260-267
Source of Funding: UK - Research Charity/Foundation
Level of funding: 10,001 - 50,000
Biography:
Evelyn qualified as a nurse in 1992 and has worked in Specialist Palliative Care since 1997 and as a Hospice Nurse Specialist in the Community since 1999. This led to her increasing interest in palliative care within nursing homes. In 2004, she was seconded from her post to lead a three year Big Lottery funded project providing palliative care training to nursing homes across the Eastern Health and Social Services Board in Northern Ireland. Working jointly with University of Ulster she has published a number of papers in international journals.