Time: 7:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Title of learning activity: End-of-life care
Diary of Learning activity
My thoughts on learning about end-of-life care are that it is required to be comprehensive and compassionate. Reflecting on this we have to consider the individual medical, emotional, ethical, and societal perspectives. One of the key reflections of end-of-life care is the holistic approach which involves more than just medical interventions. The holistic approach to consider is the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the individual. Another key reflection of end-of-life care is advance care planning, where we encourage and support the patient’s preferences regarding medical treatments and interventions before they become unable to communicate. This helps in honouring their autonomy and ensures that healthcare decisions align with their values. We also need to accommodate patients’ cultural and spiritual beliefs. We also need to look concerning issues like DNAR, withholding or withdrawing treatments and organ donations. We also need to support not just the patient but also their families and loved ones. Providing emotional support, education, and counselling for families can ease the burden and help them navigate the challenging decisions that often arise during this period.
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K1 – Understand the code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates (NMC 2018), and how to fulfill all registration requirements
K2 – Understand the demands of professional practice and demonstrate how to recognise signs of vulnerability in themselves or their colleagues and the action required to minimise risks to health
K4 – Understand the principles of research and how research findings are used to inform evidence-based practice
K5 – Understand the meaning of resilience and emotional intelligence, and their influence on an individual’s ability to provide care
K15 – Understand human development from conception to death, to enable delivery of person-centred safe and effective care
K20 – Know how people’s needs for safety, dignity, privacy, comfort and sleep can be met
K21 – Understand co-morbidities and the demands of meeting people’s holistic needs when prioritising care
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
S1 – Act in accordance with the Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates (NMC, 2018), and fulfil all registration requirements
S4 – Take responsibility for continuous self-reflection, seeking and responding to support and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills
S21 – Monitor the effectiveness of care in partnership with people, families and carers, documenting progress and reporting outcomes
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
S24 – Perform a range of nursing procedures and manage devices, to meet people’s need for safe, effective and person-centred care
S31 – Act in line with any end of life decisions and orders, organ and tissue donation protocols, infection protocols, advanced planning decisions, living wills and lasting powers of attorney for health
S32 – Work collaboratively and in partnership with professionals from different agencies in interdisciplinary teams
B1 – Treat people with dignity, respecting individual’s diversity, beliefs, culture, needs, values, privacy and preferences
B2 – Show respect and empathy for those you work with, have the courage to challenge areas of concern and work to evidence based best practice
B3 – Be adaptable, reliable and consistent, show discretion, resilience and self-awareness