lead a team of nurses and healthcare assistants to provide care in the community. I often work with people and their families over a period of time, so get to know them quite well. As a result, I can notice when their health is deteriorating and they are nearing the end of their life.
I also have a good understanding of the local community and am able to access help from a wide range of resources.
In these situations I spend time with the person who is dying and those close to them, helping them to understand the situation and what may happen in the following days or weeks. For example, carers often ask how they would know if the person was dying or what they should do if the person dies in the middle of the night. Patients might want to know what will happen to them when they are dying.
We are often …show more content…
We can offer reassurance, support, a listening ear, practical support and guidance.
We help families to discuss the kinds of things that might be important to them at this point in their life. For example, I find out if they have strong feelings about where they would ideally like to die. Because I know what’s available locally, I can help people to make informed choices.
On the medical side, we have the skills, knowledge and experience to provide nursing care just like hospital nurses but with the additional qualification to work in the community. As well as providing emotional support, we do things like giving medication, monitoring pressure relief and catheterisation. The important aspect of end of life care is to ensure people’s symptoms are controlled and we monitor the person closely making changes as necessary. We sometimes visit more than once a day and often arrange 24-hour telephone support. When people need support with other things like getting out of bed and getting washed or dressed, we work with social services to arrange for care, support and equipment to be put in
I also have a good understanding of the local community and am able to access help from a wide range of resources.
In these situations I spend time with the person who is dying and those close to them, helping them to understand the situation and what may happen in the following days or weeks. For example, carers often ask how they would know if the person was dying or what they should do if the person dies in the middle of the night. Patients might want to know what will happen to them when they are dying.
We are often …show more content…
We can offer reassurance, support, a listening ear, practical support and guidance.
We help families to discuss the kinds of things that might be important to them at this point in their life. For example, I find out if they have strong feelings about where they would ideally like to die. Because I know what’s available locally, I can help people to make informed choices.
On the medical side, we have the skills, knowledge and experience to provide nursing care just like hospital nurses but with the additional qualification to work in the community. As well as providing emotional support, we do things like giving medication, monitoring pressure relief and catheterisation. The important aspect of end of life care is to ensure people’s symptoms are controlled and we monitor the person closely making changes as necessary. We sometimes visit more than once a day and often arrange 24-hour telephone support. When people need support with other things like getting out of bed and getting washed or dressed, we work with social services to arrange for care, support and equipment to be put in