Living a philosophy of palliative care.(Poem)

Publication: Whitireia Nursing Journal

Publication Date: 01-JAN-06

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Nursing Centre of Learning

Introduction

My personal practice philosophy is focused on honouring the living experience of patients and families to whom I deliver palliative care. I present my philosophy of palliative care in poetry. My personal practice philosophy has evolved over many years of nursing and teaching as well as a lifetime of living with family with chronic illness.

Holism is an essential part of my delivery of care. I believe that it is only possible to deliver care, in the true sense of caring, to people who are facing imminent death if one works alongside each individual as a whole person. By making connections with who they are and what they may require of me, or the entire palliative care team, we allow them to live and die with both quality of life and dignity in death. The New Zealand Palliative Care Strategy states that:

All people who are dying and their family and whanau who would benefit from palliative care have timely access to quality palliative care services that are culturally appropriate and are provided in a coordinated way (The New Zealand Palliative Care Strategy, 2001, p. vii).

I reflect on this statement in relation to my personal practice philosophy, the philosophy of Hospice New Zealand, and the philosophy of our local hospice, by whom I am employed.

My Palliative Care Philosophy While calls for Euthanasia are in fashion, It is hospice-palliative care that is my passion. It is not mere...

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