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Palliative Care Challenges: Implications for nurses' practice in renal settings
Amanda Johnson
School of Nursing, Family & Community Health, Hawkesbury Campus, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South NSW
Ann Bonner
School of Nursing, Family & Community Health, Hawkesbury Campus, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South NSW
Abstract
The very act of withdrawing dialysis places renal nurses in a unique practice setting requiring a sudden shift in care delivery from one of providing life-sustaining, active treatment to that of palliation.
The impact of this act on the renal nurse remains largely invisible. Minimal research has been conducted that explores the significant issues and challenges that exist for renal nurses in the delivery of palliation following withdrawal of dialysis treatment.
This paper attempts to highlight the issues and challenges that do exist for renal nurses in providing palliation and the subsequent lack of available research knowledge to inform practice in the renal setting. It recommends further research be conducted into the renal setting so as to inform the development of appropriate education to support renal nurses practice in the future.
Keywords
renal nursing, palliative care, withdrawal of treatment, dialysis
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