The Nursing Functions--Role Implications in a Free-Standing Hospice.

Abstract

The role of the registered nurse in a hospice program of care has not been defined. The hospice program is relatively new in the United States and provides palliative care for the terminally ill patients and their families. Hospice programs are developed in a number of different models: Free-standing facility, hospital based and hospice without walls. The case study descriptive method of research, supplemented by a demographic and interview-observation guide was used for this investigation. After observing and interviewing fourteen registered nurses in a free-standing facility, and data clearly indicated that the role of the registered nurse could be defined. The results of this study indicate that an investigation in defining the role of the registered nurse in a hospice program of care in a free-standing facility is both feasible and practical in the actual setting. Systematic investigation into this domain, using the demographic questionnaire and interview observation guide provides valuable information regarding the response of the registered nurses, in implementing nursing functions in meeting the various needs of the terminally ill patient and their families. The demographic variables had no effect upon the capacity of the registered nurse in implementing the nursing functions. Ninety-seven and nine tenths percent of the nursing functions have been implemented as reported by fourteen registered nurses and as observed by the researcher. Two discrepancies were noted, as reported by fourteen registered nurses and observed by the researcher; the first one is related to the spiritual needs of the patient and the second is related to the development and utilization of the nursing care plans for the individual patient. Based on these findings, the data suggests that additional studies in the areas of the spiritual care of the patient be conducted and that educational activities be provided in developing and utilizing nursing care plans.