Date: 28/05/2025

Time: 09:30am – 04:30pm

Title: Living with Long Term Conditions and End of Life Care

During my self study, I looked at some long term conditions such as dementia, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, the impact it has on individuals and making decisions in end of life care. I also went through some videos of service users and carers experiences living with a variety of different long term conditions which gave an insight on how they were able to scale through with their daily activities, with the help of families, therapy sessions and constant use of their medications.

I understand that managing long-term conditions is not just about medical treatment, but also about holistic, person-centred care, which includes psychological, emotional, physical and social support. I learned that early identification of a patient approaching the end of life allows for better planning, coordination, and advanced care planning. However, these processes are often delayed due to prognostic uncertainty or discomfort in discussing death but with proper support and preparations, teamwork and communication between the families and health care professionals, transitioning becomes easy.

I plan to develop greater confidence in supporting patients with long term condition especially as they approach end of life and to do this, I will engage in simulation training and workshops focused on communication at the end of life. I will practice recognition and early identification of palliative needs using evidence-based tools. Observe or shadow members of the palliative care team, including Nurses, General Practitioners and hospice staff, to understand how they approach care coordination, symptom control, and emotional support. And finally, I will reflect more regularly on my practice to ensure continuous professional development.

KSB addressed:

K24: Know how to support people with commonly encountered symptoms including anxiety, confusion, discomfort and pain

K25: Know how to deliver sensitive and compassionate end of life care to support people to plan for their end of life

K26: Understand where and how to seek guidance and support from others to ensure that the best interests of those receiving care are upheld

K37: Understand the challenges of providing safe Nursing care for people with complex co-morbidities and complex care needs

K39: Understand the principles and processes involved in supporting people and families with a range of care needs to maintain optimal independence and avoid unnecessary interventions and disruptions to their lives

S23: Work in partnership with people to encourage shared decision making, in order to support individuals, their families and carers to manage their own care when appropriate

S28: Support people with commonly encountered symptoms including anxiety, confusion, discomfort and pain

S24: Perform a range of Nursing procedures and manage devices to meet people’s need for safe, effective and person-centred care

S29: Give information and support to people who are dying, their families and the bereaved and provide care to the deceased