16 Ensuring Compliance With Hospice Regulations Today’s health care arena is highly regulated and ever-changing. Remaining abreast of the rapid changes in regulations and reporting requirements can be daunting. The…
15 Monitoring Quality Today, third-party payers have a vested interest in ensuring that the care they pay for is of the highest quality. Numerous initiatives have been launched to define…
14 Defining Quality in Hospice Hospice care in the United States has evolved rapidly over the past several decades. What began as a grass-roots movement to improve care of the…
13 Understanding Grief and Bereavement Hospice nurses work with families and caregivers throughout a patient’s last months, weeks, and days. During those times, the hospice nurse provides guidance and support…
12 Supporting Family Members and Caregivers Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences in life. Family members are not always prepared to serve as primary caregivers…
10 Nursing Considerations for Cultural Variations at the End of Life Religious beliefs and rituals often bring comfort and hope to patients at the end of their lives. Religious and…
9 Recognizing Existential Suffering and Spiritual Needs and Providing Appropriate Support In addressing the spiritual needs of patients and families, hospice nurses work closely with the families’ spiritual leader, hospice…
5 Establishing Goals of Care Hospice nurses are experts at supporting patients and their families during the transition from curative care to end-of-life care. They partner with families to ensure…
3 Hospice Philosophy and the Role of the Nurse The original Christian perspective that Sanders infused into hospice work ensured that each life was valued until its natural end and…
1 The Difference Between Hospice and Palliative Care Hospice care has evolved over the past several decades and has always incorporated palliative care interventions. However, palliative care has taken on…
