Reference no: EM133857082

Source: Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.

Author(s): Goldsmith, Joy; Ferrell, Betty; Wittenberg-Lyles, Elaine; Ragan, Sandra L.

Abstract: Oncology nurses consistently exhibit distress when communicating about end-of-life topics with patients and families. Poor communication experiences and processes correlate with emotional distress, moral distress, and work-related stress. The National Consensus Project (NCP) for Quality Palliative Care developed clinical practice guidelines to establish quality standards for the practice of palliative care. NCP's guidelines are expressly intended as an interdisciplinary document and are representative of the inherent interdisciplinary nature of palliative care. Communication's value to palliative and oncology nursing is unique because those two specialties include a high frequency of challenging interactions for patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

The COMFORT communication curriculum, a holistic model for narrative clinical communication in practice developed for use in early palliative care, is posed as a resource for oncology nurses with a series of practice case examples presented against the backdrop of NCP's eight domains of quality palliative care.

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Question 1. Regarding medical ethics, if a man is discovered to be hepatitis B or C positive, is it advisable for the physician to inform the wife or sexual contact of the patient?

Question 2. Is it unlawful in most countries to limit medical care, particularly by rationing the usage of drugs? Surely rationing must be against the oath we took as doctors to provide the best care available.

Question 3. What is meant by QALYs? Is there a difference between quality and quantity of life?

Question 4. Are 'Do not resuscitate' orders illegal in most countries?

Question 5. What is a living will?

Question 6. I've heard of the Bolam principle but when I mentioned it to my lecturer I was told it was out of date. Could you explain please?

Question 7. Why is counselling required before an HIV test can be done on a patient? We don't counsel patients when we look for a tumour marker to diagnose cancer, which is often more serious for a patient.

Question 8. As a junior doctor, I have to attend many multidisciplinary team meetings. I am concerned about the confidentiality of these meetings as they are attended by a diverse group of healthcare workers.

Question 9. Is the role of the advocate in a medical interview to help the patient or the doctor?

Question 10. We are always asked by our seniors to make sure that the patient has signed the consent form. Isn't verbal consent enough? Also, for what procedures do I have to get consent, e.g. urinary catheterization in a patient with retention?