Improving End Of Life Care In The Icu. A Literature Review

Improving End of Life Care in the ICU A literature review conducted by Crowe (2017) examines the role of ICU nurses in providing high quality end of life care in the ICU. He states that palliative nursing in the ICU is de-emphasized due to an increased focus on curative treatment. Four major themes have been identified that contribute to the poor management of critically ill patients needing palliative support. These themes include decision-making challenges, barriers, obtaining support and formation of guidelines to effectively implement comfort care therapies. Hence, a checklist has been developed to allow nurses to properly facilitate the provision of quality care to patients experiencing the end of life, as well as giving needed†¦show more content†¦With information gathering reflecting evidence-based practice, a checklist has been created in accordance with the philosophy of the hospital s palliative care program. This said checklist is also constructed in alignment with the ICU’s policies and proced ures to provide â€Å"a framework for the bedside ICU nurse to ensure proper process, and consistent care is provided to all patients and families at the end of life† (Crowe, 2017). This will be implemented upon completion of a family meeting with the multidisciplinary team that allows clear communication, decision making to modify goals of care from curative to comfort, reflection, and clarification of questions. The checklist is divided into three parts: Decision making, Preparation, and Implementation. Decision making involves the explanation and confirmation of withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies. The preparation phase includes family awareness, planning, consideration of spiritual practices and organ donation inquiries. Lastly, the implementation phase provides detailed instruction for the healthcare team once the process is initiated (Crowe, 2017). The study concludes that it is imperative for nurses to acquire knowledge on the significance of palliative care, the ethics behind, and how it impacts the lives of their patients and families. This checklist serves as a guide for bestShow MoreRelatedEssay on Importance of Communication Between Doctors and Nurses916 Words   |  4 PagesImportance of Effective Communication between Doctors and Nurses during End-of-Life Care in the Intensive Care Unit End-of-life care, as defined by the U.S. National Institute on Aging, is the term used to describe the support and medical care given during the time surrounding death. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specialty area that cares for critically-ill patients who are facing life-threatening problems. 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