Julie Ling - International Journal of Palliative Nursing

Aim: To assess the current level of input from community-based clinical nurse specialists in palliative care into nursing homes in the Republic of Ireland.
Method: A national survey was undertaken with questionnaires distributed via the National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery database. The total population was 114 community-based clinical nurse specialists in palliative care.
Findings: Sixty-three completed questionnaires were returned achieving a 55% response rate. All respondents had undertaken work with nursing homes. The main focus of interactions with nursing homes was on pain and symptom management and this was often provided by telephone. The majority of nurses were involved exclusively in care of patients with cancer, although 40% of respondents cared for patients with non-malignant diseases.
Conclusions: As populations age and more people end their lives in residential care settings, this area of care has increasing relevance. The dissemination of palliative care best practice would ensure that all patients, regardless of their diagnosis, receive the benefits of palliative care at the end of life. Clinical nurse specialists are ideally placed to provide education and support to nursing homes and other residential care settings for older people.

Conclusion: there is a very high level of physical, sensory and cognitive disability among nursing home residents. Strategic health and functional questions in national censuses may be helpful in planning appropriate services for older people in residential care, as well as tracking trends in disability.