The Role of the Veterinary Nurse in Palliative Care: The Why
- Hospice and palliative care is, and should be, a nurse-driven service
- The need for increased autonomy and evolving roles within the veterinary team
- Working as a team to improve care for the client, the patient, and the entire staff
The Role of the Veterinary Nurse in Palliative Care: The How
- General considerations:
- Identify a dedicated nurse who can be a palliative care champion for the hospital
- Getting hospital “buy in”
- Scheduling considerations
- Virtually, in-clinic, in-home
- Pros and cons of each care delivery model
- Recommended length of appointments
- The nurse’s role defined, including a detailed discussion around the vital components of each phase of the nursing consult and ongoing case management led by the nurse
- Importance of a “chunk and check” approach to client communication and education
- The pre-consultation intake
- History intake
- Veterinary services intake
- Evaluation of needs, beliefs and goals intake
- Environmental assessment intake
- The post-consultation intake
- General disease education
- Disease trajectories
- Pain recognition
- Medication education and considerations
- Home environment modifications and improvements
- End-of-life planning
- Grief and pet loss support considerations
- Education resources
- Reassessments and check-ins, including recommended frequency based on patient status
- Pain reassessment
- QOL reassessment
- Family goals reassessment
The importance of caring for yourself while caring for your patients
Training opportunities and education resources