35225 The Role of the Nurse in Caring for the Dying Patient

What you'll learn

Course overview

Nurses play an essential role in caring for dying patients, serving as care coordinators between patients, their families, and clinicians. Nurses ensure not only that patients symptoms are managed, but also that patients get the emotional support they need. Because nurses play such a pivotal role in the end of patients lives, it is essential they have an in-depth understanding of how to properly care for dying patients to ensure best outcomes. This course discusses the role of the nurse in caring for the dying patient. Topics include the differences between palliative care and hospice care; the Kubler-Ross stages of grief; legal aspects of end-of-life care, including living will, advance directive, do-not-resuscitate, and medical power of attorney; religious and spiritual aspects of end-of-life care; physiological and psychological signs and symptoms at the end-of-life; the process of providing post-mortem care; and care provided for the family of the dying/deceased patient. There is also a discussion about how implicit bias may impact healthcare.