Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Recommendations for Practice:
� Implementation of an ICU Policy and Patient Care
Pathway
The participants highlighted the need for implementing a policy
for E.O.L.C. and the development of a patients E.O.L.C.
pathway in ICU, in collaboration with the Palliative care team of
the hospital. These would empower doctors and nurses to
provide high quality E.O.L.C. to patients and their relatives.
� Increased Consultation with Nursing Staff, Patients and
Families
Better communication within ICU between patients, relatives
and the multi-disciplinary team. Daily discussions with the
patient and their family about care and their wishes. Improving
communication with nurses on the morning rounds. This will
ensure they are aware of any new developments and can give
their views on any E.O.L.C. decisions made. This could facilitate
better E.O.L.C. for the patient, family and the multi-disciplinary
team.
� Facilitating daily discussion and decisions on patient
status
Introducing new documentation in the patient’s chart and
E.O.L.C. Pathway to chart the patients status e.g. DNR order or
not for ventilation, on a daily basis. This will make the multidisciplinary
team more aware of the status and wishes of
patients in the event of an emergency or after the hours of
business during the week and especially the weekends.
� Consider introducing the Palliative Care team for
Consultation on patients
As stated by the participants in this study, involving palliative
care in E.O.L.C. in ICU can only be an asset to the patient and
the multi-disciplinary team as they are experts in their field. A
member of ICU staff could be appointed to liaise with the
palliative care team in difficult situations or as the need arose.
They could also give in-service on the needs of the dying
patient and their family and suggest available courses that may
help staff with issues on palliative E.O.L.C.
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