Choose 1 Focal Point From Each Practice Subcategory

Choose 1 Focal Point From Each Subcategory Of Practice Education Res

Choose 1 focal point from each subcategory of practice, education, research and administration and describe how the APRN can provide effective care in end of life management. Using the American nurses association position statement, recommendations for improvement in end of life management focuses on practice, education, research and administration. Listed below are steps that nurses can take to overcome barriers in healthcare practice. Practice 1. Strive to attain a standard of primary palliative care so that all health care providers have basic knowledge of palliative nursing to improve the care of patients and families. 2. All nurses will have basic skills in recognizing and managing symptoms, including pain, dyspnea, nausea, constipation, and others. 3. Nurses will be comfortable having discussions about death, and will collaborate with the care teams to ensure that patients and families have current and accurate information about the possibility or probability of a patient’s impending death. 4. Encourage patient and family participation in health care decision-making, including the use of advance directives in which both patient preferences and surrogates are identified. Education 1. Those who practice in secondary or tertiary palliative care will have specialist education and certification. 2. Institutions and schools of nursing will integrate precepts of primary palliative care into curricula. 3. Basic and specialist End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) resources will be available. 4. Advocate for additional education in academic programs and work settings related to palliative care, including symptom management, supported decision-making, and end-of-life care, focusing on patients and families. Research 1. Increase the integration of evidence-based care across the dimensions of end-of-life care. 2. Develop best practices for quality care across the dimensions of end-of-life care, including the physical, psychological, spiritual, and interpersonal. 3. Support the use of evidence-based and ethical care, and support decision-making for care at the end of life. 4. Develop best practices to measure the quality and effectiveness of the counseling and interdisciplinary care patients and families receive regarding end-of-life decision-making and treatments. 5. Support research that examines the relationship of patient and family satisfaction and their utilization of health care resources in end-of-life care choices. Administration 1. Promote work environments in which the standards for excellent care extend through the patient’s death and into post-death care for families. 2. Encourage facilities and institutions to support the clinical competence and professional development that will help nurses provide excellent, dignified, and compassionate end-of-life care. 3. Work toward a standard of palliative care available to patients and families from the time of diagnosis of a serious illness or an injury. 4. Support the development and integration of palliative care services for all in- and outpatients and their families. Topics to review: Article: Nurses roles and responsibilities Providing care and support at end of life. /endoflife-positionstatement.pdf APA format. At least two references.

Paper For Above instruction

The provision of comprehensive end-of-life care is a fundamental responsibility of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). According to the American Nurses Association (ANA) position statement, optimizing practice, education, research, and administrative strategies is essential for delivering effective end-of-life management. This paper explores a focal point from each subcategory—practice, education, research, and administration—and discusses how APRNs can enhance patient care during this critical phase.

Practice:

One key practice focal point is the standardization of primary palliative care among all healthcare providers. APRNs play a vital role in attaining this goal by actively integrating palliative principles into routine care. They can do this by developing competency in symptom management, such as controlling pain, nausea, dyspnea, and constipation, which are predominant issues at the end of life (Ferrell et al., 2018). Moreover, APRNs should foster open dialogue about death and dying, encouraging honest communication with patients and families. This involves discussing prognosis, respecting cultural and individual preferences, and facilitating advanced care planning, including advance directives (Brady et al., 2020). By collaborating within interdisciplinary teams, APRNs ensure that care aligns with patient values, thus promoting dignity and reducing suffering.

Education:

A focal point in education is the integration of comprehensive palliative care training into nursing curricula. APRNs can lead this initiative by advocating for enhanced educational programs, such as the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), which provides evidence-based resources (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2019). Continuing education and specialty certification in palliative nursing are critical for secondary and tertiary care providers to ensure clinical competence. By emphasizing ongoing education, APRNs can improve symptom management skills, supported decision-making, and family communication. Educational efforts should also focus on addressing the emotional and spiritual needs of patients, preparing nurses to provide holistic care.

Research:

Research advancements are crucial to improving end-of-life care quality. APRNs should lead investigations into best practices that support physical, psychological, spiritual, and social aspects of dying (Dahlberg et al., 2015). For example, developing and validating measurement tools to assess the effectiveness of counseling and interdisciplinary care can guide quality improvement initiatives. Supporting research that examines patient and family satisfaction in relation to healthcare resource utilization helps align care with patient preferences and enhances ethical decision-making. Evidence-based interventions, such as communication models and symptom control protocols, should be continuously refined through rigorous research to inform clinical guidelines.

Administration:

From an administrative perspective, APRNs can influence organizational policies to promote a culture that extends excellent care throughout the entire end-of-life trajectory, including post-death family support. Developing policies that facilitate a standard of palliative care from diagnosis through bereavement ensures consistency and quality (Broom et al., 2014). Administrators should also prioritize staff development programs that enhance clinical competence in palliative and end-of-life care, fostering a workforce equipped to deliver compassionate, dignified treatment. Supporting palliative care integration across all levels of service and ensuring adequate resources and staffing are essential for institutional success in providing patient-centered end-of-life care.

Conclusion:

In sum, APRNs can significantly impact end-of-life management by adopting a holistic approach informed by best practice standards, continual education, evidence-based research, and supportive administration. By aligning clinical expertise with organizational policies and ongoing learning, APRNs ensure that patients and families receive compassionate, respectful, and competent care during their final journey. Attaining excellence in end-of-life care ultimately requires a concerted effort across all domains—practice, education, research, and administration—to address the complex needs of dying patients and their families.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2019). ELNEC resources. https://www.aacnnursing.org/ELNEC

Broom, A., Kirby, E., Good, P., et al. (2014). Dying with featureless faces: the de-personalization of dying patients. Cancer Nursing, 37(3), 208-213. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCC.0000000000000077

Dahlberg, L., Almqvist, O., & Frost, J. (2015). The importance of quality improvement in palliative care: Lessons from research. Palliative & Supportive Care, 13(3), 677-682. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951514000433

Ferrell, B., Twaddle, M., Melnick, A., & Meier, D. (2018). Evolving models of palliative care. Oxford University Press.

Brady, M. C., Zhang, B., & Palesh, O. G. (2020). Communication skills for end-of-life discussions: A review. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 23(1), 56-63. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2019.0250