FEATURE The Importance of Palliative Care Nurses
Chris Oakes, Director of HR and OD at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, explains why palliative care nurses are in such demand at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
According to the Royal College of Nursing, there are 40,000 nursing vacancies in England. The Health Service Journal has also reported that 96% of hospitals in the UK have nursing shortages. This shortage is having an inevitable impact on palliative care nursing.
http://nhsfunding.info/symptoms/10-effects-of-underfunding/staff-shortages/
http://www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk/assets/0001/9508/Together_for_Short_Lives_-_The_state_of_children_s_palliative_care_nursing_in_2017.pdf https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/workforce/stark-decline-in-eu-nurses-coming-to-work-in-uk-continues/
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A report from the Richard’s House Children’s Hospice in April this year highlighted the acute shortage in children’s palliative care nurses, and the fact more than half (61%) of children’s hospice organisations say they have a lack of appropriately skilled nurses available to fill posts.
Other research last year into end-of-life care, from NHS England and the charity Marie Curie, suggested that too many people in hospitals are not receiving proper palliative care in their final hours. They found that those who die overnight or at the weekend may be denied the right care because only 11% of hospital trusts in England provide specialist palliative services around the clock.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/31/end-of-life-care-in-nhs-still-not-good-enough-report-finds
Dr Adrian Tookman, Clinical Director at the charity Marie Curie, told the Guardian: “The NHS needs to start recruiting and training doctors and nurses now if it wants to deliver a good 24/7 palliative care service by 2020, otherwise the problem will only get worse as more people die each year.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/31/end-of-life-care-in-nhs-still-not-good-enough-report-finds
DEMANDS OF THE ROLE End-of-life care is a demanding but highly rewarding career choice for nurses which offers the opportunity for them to be part of a multi-disciplined team and provide care for patients at a very difficult time. These nurses make a major difference to patients and their families and this is one of the key attractions of the role.
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The main aim of a palliative care nurse is to prevent and ease suffering, and improve the quality of life for patients with terminal illnesses. Palliative care nurses also provide psychological, social and spiritual support for patients and their families or carers so the role requires a broad range of clinical and interpersonal skills.
provide holistic and individual care for every patient.”
“Our focus is to
Empathy, compassion and understanding towards patients are required as well as excellent communication skills and a sense of responsibility, as well as the ability to relate to people from a range of backgrounds. Oſten the role appeals to more experienced nurses who are comfortable dealing with people at distressing times.
One palliative care nurse who finds the role hugely rewarding is Ward Sister, Laura Marlton, who works at the Cynthia Spencer Hospice, part of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The hospice has around 30 nursing staff as well as other members of the team who look aſter a maximum of 16 patients at any one time. Laura relocated to Northamptonshire and took on the role in 2011.
Discussing why she enjoys the role, Laura said: “Our focus is to provide holistic and individual care for every patient. We
really get to know them and go the extra mile to provide the best care and support possible for their needs.
“If a patient wants to go home for an hour and it is important to them, we will organise it. We have also arranged wedding blessings, day trips and birthday parties, and even had pets, including horses, to visit.”
Laura says the great camaraderie and team spirit amongst staff at the hospice makes the role really fulfilling. She added that they support each other and oſten socialise outside of work.
“Palliative care nurses need to be empathetic, organised, kind, compassionate and deeply caring. To be successful, you also need to have an understanding and supportive family who understand what you do,” Laura continued.
RECRUITMENT DRIVE Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) is currently looking to recruit specialist palliative care nurses, or Registered General nurses with an interest in palliative care, who can demonstrate the range of skills and competencies required to provide high quality care.
Just as Laura has found, there are many benefits for nurses relocating to Northamptonshire. The varied services across the county mean there are plenty of opportunities, plus the Trust offers flexible working hours that can enhance people's work/life balance. They are focused on training and development, and there is a great culture that supports staff wellbeing.
Another nurse who works in palliative care at Cransley Hospice, part of NHFT, is staff nurse Pauline Mitchell who
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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