Palliative Care Nurses Fill a Special Need
Palliative care is a fairly new concept. It is a holistic approach to patient care provided when a person is facing a long term or life threatening illness. The patient’s family is involved in the care plan and the palliative team not only keeps the patient as comfortable as possible, but the needs and feelings of the patient’s loved ones are also a primary concern. Caregivers include a team of nurses, social workers, medical assistants, a Chaplin, volunteers and medical doctors. These caregivers and nurses work together to assess and deliver personalized care to the patient and their loved ones.
It takes a special type of person to be involved with palliative care. In order to be a palliative nurse you must have excellent assessment skills, be able to handle working with gravely ill patients, and understand the grief and pain loved ones are going through. A strong sense of compassion is necessary to work in palliative care. Many palliative care nurses find this career path very rewarding and fulfilling. In 1986 the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) was formed to help establish a network of support for palliative and hospice nurses. HPNA offers certification and scholarships for nurses specializing in this area. Membership is also open to student nurses to help them get started in this important field of nursing.
From a personal viewpoint I know how special this type of nurse is. My husband was under palliative care as was my mother at the end of their lives. Not only did my loved ones receive excellent and compassionate care, but I was included in all of the decisions and care plans for both of them. I do believe that this type of care is important and makes a huge difference in the care of the gravely ill. The care and compassion the nurses and the rest of the teams showed my loved ones and myself will always be remembered.
Palliative nurses are RNs and generally have specialized training. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports RNs can expect to make over $59,000 per year. This may be higher or lower depending on the area of the country you work in and the level of education you have. Nursing is a noble profession and if you choose to dedicate your life to the care of others, you will be rewarded with the knowledge that you made a difference in a person’s life at their more vulnerable time. Nurses and caregivers can add to the quality of life and help the family deal with the reality of a life ending and life threatening illness of a loved one.