ASSIGNMENT 1
ASSIGNMENT QUESTION
Discuss the principles underlying palliative care and its development, in particular the importance of the nurse’s role in its delivery.
WORD COUNT: 1094
LECTURER: STEWART MILLIGAN
COURSEWORK DECLARATION:
1. The material within this coursework is my own work.
2. All sources used within this work are appropriately
Acknowledged and referenced.
Date of Submission: 22 March 2006
Contents Page
Assignment Details Page 1
Contents Page 2
Introduction Page 3
History of Palliative Care Page 3
Underlying Principles of Palliative Care Page 4 - 5
The Nurse’s Role in Palliative Care Page 5 - 6
Conclusion Page 6 - 7
References Page 8
Bibliography Page 9
Appendices Page 10 - 19
Introduction
The aim of this assignment is to discuss the underlying principles of palliative care and its development. The importance of the nurse’s role, in the delivery of palliative care will be given particular attention.
History of Palliative Care
The history of palliative care has its roots in the tradition of caring for the dying which has been evident across most cultures for thousands of years, but the modern field has a pre-history which has evolved over the last 150 years. Palliative care emerged from acute to chronic causes of death, and the emphasis of health care was on improving quality of life (Higginson 1993). The most common place to end one’s life shifted from the domestic home, to some form of institution. However, in the second half of the twentieth century, major innovations took place and the modern palliative care movement began to emerge from the hospice movement. St Christopher’s Hospice opened for inpatient care in 1967. It was the first hospice with an academic model of integrated care that combined clinical care, research and teaching and provided a joint emphasis on medical and psychosocial needs (Lugton and MacIntyre...