COMFORTTMSM in the ICU: Advancing ICU Nurses' Role in Primary Palliative Care (TH371C)

Cancer patients are being treated with greater frequency in ICUs, where nurses (RNs) often provide the most consistent clinical presence. Critically ill patients and their families hope for recovery, but may encounter uncertainty, complications, and poor outcomes. Such patients benefit from palliative care (PC) to assist with clarification of goals of care and alignment of treatment choices to wishes. Opportunity exists to engage ICU RNs as primary PC team members to help explore patient and family hopes, promote understanding, and assist with decision-making.

Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - January 25, 2020 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Sarah Thirlwell, Angela Sandberg, Carolin Isler, Tony Winter, Barbara Lubrano di Ciccone, Diane Portman Source Type: research