Nursing Perspective and Considerations

The purpose of this chapter is to review the nursing perspective in palliative care and some of the important and critical aspects of caring for these patients and their families. The nurse plays a very important as he or she will be the main caregiver who will spend the most time with patients during palliative care. Palliative care is not limited only to individuals who are dying but also to a wider range of individuals experiencing long-term illnesses. The goal of palliative care as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) is to get the highest quality of life for the patient and their families. This care aims to address the whole patient, including the psychological, spiritual, physical, and mental needs.