Palliative Care Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What is the difference between euthanasia and palliative care? I was just wondering what the difference is between the two. In Canada euthanasia is illegal, but palliative care is common in long term care facilities. When a patient is in the end stages of life morphine is given frequently, for comfort, but it speeds up the death process. Is this not considered euthanasia since the patient is not dying of natural causes?

Answer: Morphine is not intended to accelerate death, it just make pain more manageable. The only time death can be accelerated is if a patient is depend ant upon lifesaving equipment like a feeding tube or respirator. The difference is palliative care is long term care to make the end of life stage as comfortable as possibly, euthanasia is simply putting the patient out of their misery in a humane manner.

Question: How do I become a Palliative Care Nurse? I want to work in a hospice, not a hospital and I don't want to be a traditional nurse - I want my focus to be End of Life Care. I've looked around at Palliative Care Nursing schools in my city and all I can find are traditional nursing schools. Anybody know anything about this? I will contact my local hospice and Palliative Care organization soon to find out details. Thanks

Answer: You must become a nurse in the traditional schooling then can specialize after u get a degree. You could also work as a nurses aide in a hospice or volunteer in one .There are many positions open in hospice units. I have worked in them and also been a volunteer.

Question: Mural ideas for palliative care unit in a hospital? I was assigned with creating a mural for the palliative care unit in my local hospital. The theme is "colors for life" which essentially means the different colors that represent different cancers. Beyond that guideline, i can do whatever I want. I need some creative ideas for what the mural could be of. I am trying to stay away from something patronizing or remindful of their condition. Any suggestions?

Answer: the idea truly intimidates me...i'm glad it's you doing this and not me. something abstract-y may work well.

Question: What are some alternatives to euthanasia apart from palliative care and pain management? i tried researching some alternatives for euthanasia but all I could find was palliative care and pain management. Help!

Answer: THE ALTERNATIVE TO EUTHANASIA The alternative to legalized euthanasia is not extraordinary, futile treatment to hopelessly dying patients. The alternatives are appropriate medical care - including 1) the withdrawal of treatment upon patient request, or if that treatment serves no therapeutic purpose; and 2) dispensing drugs as necessary to control pain. No doctors, laws, or organizations oppose ceasing care when the time to die has arrived.

Question: Do I need a nursing or social worker degree to work in Palliative Care? I have been an elementary school teacher for 18 years and am now interested in working in Palliative care. Would I need to obtain a nursing or a degree in social work? I am interested in massage and theraputic touch as well spirituality issues with people at the end of their life. Thanks for your answers.

Answer: If your interest is in massage then you really want to do a massage degree (you would not need any additional training beyond that - though depending on where you are there may not be many jobs in doing massage in palliative care (of course if you have already been volunteering in palliative care this would help). Now the MSW can certainly be combined and allow you to add the area of massage (spirituality can and is a part of what is looked at in an MSW degree). I know that University of NM in las curz had a focus on touch when I interviewed there about 10 years ago (students were asking to give me a massage). There may be other schools that combine. You can also look at an MA in counseling at a school that focues on traspersonal psych such as Naropa. You can also look at Hakomi (sp?) which was popular several years ago. DA

Question: Is it dangerous to volunteer in palliative care? Hello, My son wants to volunteer in palliative care. Is it possible that he may contract AIDS or some other life threatening illness? We live in Ontario, Canada (Toronto Region) Thanks

Answer: Not if he's following guidelines, health and safety. He's more likely to catch a cold than anything major.

Question: Can anyone recommend a hospice or palliative care agency in England? I currently work for a hospice in the US but I was looking to maybe go to England and continue working in the hospice and palliative care field. Any suggestions? I currently work for a hospice in the US but I was looking to maybe go to England and continue working in the hospice and palliative care field. Any suggestions? Also, will I need a work permit from the employer in the UK if I am sponsored by a UK resident to live there?

Answer: The Ellenor Foundation in Kent is fantastic. However, with whatever job you are looking for, don't forget that if you are not an EU national, you will have to find a post where the employer will be able to get a work permit for you (this will entail them proving that they can't find a UK national to fill the position). Extra info after your additional question - yes, you will still need a work permit. The UK doesn't really work on the basis of "sponsors". If you are going to be taking a paid job in the UK, the employer needs to sort out a work permit for you in advance.

Question: How do you explain palliative care to a child (age 12)??? Im trying to explain what a palliative care unit does and am struggling to explain it. thanks

Answer: I assume that this is a struggle because its personal. A palliative care team provides care that reduces the symptoms of whatever the person is struggling with health care wise. It doesn't necessarily mean the person will die. If the person is having chemotherapy the palliative care team will help with nausea and other symptoms. Palliative care could help surgery patients with pain and positioning. If the person is in a hospice situation the palliative care team will help with positioning, dry mouth, temperature regulation, etc. to ease the discomfort of the patient. It is a wonderful world we live in when we have people who dedicate their careers to helping people get through these small but very significant things and providing education for others. If I were you I would set up a meeting with a member of the care unit and the twelve year old. These people are trained to educate and give care and they will help you a lot.

Question: Comparing palliative care for adults with cancer in a hospital and a hospice? Does anyone know where I can find data/information comparing the services/care available in a hospital with services/care available in a hospice?

Answer: There is often confusion between the terms hospice and palliative care. In the United States, hospice services and palliative care programs share similar goals of providing symptom relief and pain management. The most important distinction between hospice and palliative care programs in the United States, however, is that hospice is a Medicare Part A benefit, thus requiring many aspects of hospice care such as enrollment to be regulated by the United States federal government. Non-hospice palliative care, however, is appropriate for anyone with a serious, complex illness, whether they are expected to recover fully, to live with chronic illness for an extended time, or to experience disease progression. (Wikipedia) Hospice care: Hospices provide care for the dying. The goal is to alleviate symptoms and keep people comfortable rather than to cure a disorder. Medicare covers hospice care only for people with < 6 mo life expectancy; hospice care replaces the usual Medicare benefit package, although hospitalization is still covered. Hospice care can be provided in the home, a nursing home, or a separate inpatient facility. In the US, hospice care tends to be started very late in fatal disorders, especially for disorders other than cancer (eg, Alzheimer's disease, heart failure, chronic lung disorders).(Merck)

Question: How does a palliative approach to care differ from other types of care? How does a palliative approach to care differ from other types of care?

Answer: Palliative care differs from the traditional model in may ways. First of all, it is about treating the human responses to the medical diagnosis, not the diagnosis itself. To sum it up, palliative care takes into account the entire persons being, spiritual, physical, emotional, social, etc. It typically involves multiple disciplines all working together to allieviate the negative responses associated with a disease process. It is different from hospice.

Question: How do nurses find the strength to work in palliative care wards? ( this one is a straight Q - I cannot imagine how they manage to do this day after day )

Answer: I asked my MacMillan nurse who said that she likes helping people come to terms with their illness and prepare and support families. They try not to get too emotional but they are human after all. Its a blessing that there are people who are always there and an ear to listen to problems. God Bless them all.

Question: When i qualify as a nurse i would like to go into palliative care - is this possible after qualifying? or do i need to complete other courses, work on a ward for a certain amount of time etc? I'm currently on a diploma course and doing adult branch.

Answer: I believe that palliative care is like pain management which may include working in hospice care (those with a terminal illness) and perhaps a pain management program. Wishing that I could be of more help. Perhaps your school can advise you on which courses and route to take in order to work in palliative care. For general career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search 'registered nurses' or such. There should be other resources listed at the end of the entry. For US colleges: http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ

Question: What is the difference between palliative care and a hospice or are they the same thing different stages?

Answer: When you have a terminal illness with less than 2 yrs life expectancy, you qualify for hospice. Hospice is an organization that specializes in the end of life care. They provide the resources for palliative care. Palliative care is designed to treat, not the illness, but the symptoms...like pain, anxiety, difficulty breathing. For example, a hospice nurse will give the morphine for pain. Hope this helps.

Question: In palliative care do they help with depression, fatigue, and weakness, medication wise? And most importantly, with therapy, or massages, or any natural ways to relieve these?

Answer: Usually when someone is in palliative care, they are getting doses of pain meds and some form of anti anxiety medication, such as ativan. It depends on how close they are to dying. This is just my experience from my best friends mom dying in January from cancer, and my friend who was a palliative care nurse. Usually they are too weak for therapy, massages and such.

Question: Is anyone a hospice/palliative care RN, or work in the field? I was wondering if you can clearly describe your experiences with it, what you do, things you experienced which you will remember for ever, your typical patient (if you have one) description of technical duties you preformed Thank you so much

Answer: May I know why? It will help me answer your question better.

Question: Can my dad override medical decisions RE palliative care? If I'm 17 (in Australia) can my dad override medical decisions I make? If so, is there anything I can do?

Answer: I don't know the laws in Australia. I would ask your doctor, because they would be more familiar with the laws and your situation. Your doctor is also familiar with your medical condition as well as your family dynamics. He/she might be very helpful.