Palliative care APN?? Help!

core0 · Aug 16, 2007

hi guys - i just kinda stumbled onto this job listing at the hospital where i used to work. its to start up a palliative care program for patients. i really think this sounds like something right up my alley. anyway...anyone doing anything like this??? what exactly does your job entail? thoughts/comments??? thanks so much

we have a new pallative care team but they don't use npps. there is some literature out there on this:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&list_uids=16926738&cmd=retrieve&indexed=google

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=showdetailview&termtosearch=12427186&ordinalpos=1&itool=entrezsystem2.pentrez.pubmed.pubmed_resultspanel.pubmed_rvabstractplus

these mostly seem to be in the uk. i know the pallative care model is more developed over there.

there is a post masters program at uic:

http://www.uic.edu/nursing/palliativecare/curiculum.htm

finally here is a pretty nice paper that talks about pallative care and explains the british system:

http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/109662103322515211

hope this helps.

david carpenter, pa-c

VivaRN · Aug 16, 2007

Hey, that does sound pretty neat. And a great way to use our skills as advanced practice nurses. With all of your experience, I'm sure you would be excellent!

I know a physician at a hospital in AZ who is the chief of palliative care. He works with two palliative care CNS's - they get along really well. The primary team asks them to consult, then they round on patients and make recommendations - looking at areas like palliative surgical intervention & pain management through end-of-life. Then they follow the patients as well. I wish I knew more to tell you - hopefully some other people will jump in.

It would be fun to be able to create the program... great opportunity ~

Let us know if you take it!

Trauma Columnist · Aug 17, 2007

David and Viva - thanks so much. I have an interview early in Sept, so will let you know. Thanks again.