ROLE OF NURSE IN CONDUCTING PALLIATIVE CARE

Palijativna skrb je ukupna skrb za bolesnika čija bolest ne reagira na postupke liječenja, a za cilj ima poboljšanje kvalitete života uz oslobađanje od boli i patnje. Zdravstvena njega palijativnog bolesnika obuhvaća tjelesne, psihičke, socijalne i duhovne poteškoće, a osim samog bolesnika obuhvaća obitelj i zajednicu. Interdisciplinarni tim palijativne skrbi većinom uključuje liječnika, medicinsku sestru, socijalnog radnika, duhovnika i volontera, ovisno o sveukupnom ustroju palijativne skrbi u zajednici. Medicinska sestra ima važnu ulogu u zbrinjavanju palijativnih bolesnika, a osim zdravstvene njege koja je usmjerena na zadovoljavanje osnovnih ljudskih potreba, te prevenciju i rano uočavanje simptoma, brine i o pravima bolesnika i ljudskom dostojanstvu. Odgovorna je za planiranje, provođenje i evaluaciju zdravstvene njege, uz kontinuiranu procjenu, edukaciju bolesnika i obitelji, te suradnju sa svim članovima interdisciplinarnog tima. Razvijene komunikacijske vještine preduvjet su dobre psihološke njege, ali i olakšavaju vlastito proživljavanje gubitka. Isto tako, važno je i članovima interdisciplinarnog tima osigurati mogućnost konzultacija i supervizija, s obzirom na to da se svakodnevno suočavaju sa situacijama koje troše njihove psihološke kapacitete i snagu. Ako je dobro organizirana, palijativna skrb je najhumaniji oblik pomoći oboljelom da dostojno završi svoj život. Zbog toga treba biti dostupna svakoj osobi kojoj je potrebna, u skladu s izborom bolesnika, u svim oblicima i na svim razinama zdravstvene djelatnosti.Palliative care is a total care for the patients whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment, with the aim of improving the quality of life by relieving pain and suffering. The palliative patient health care includes physical, mental, social and spiritual difficulties and apart from the patient itself, it includes the family and the community. The interdisciplinary team of palliative care mainly involves a doctor, a nurse, a social worker, a cleric and a volunteer, depending on the overall organization of palliative care in the community. The nurse has an important role in the care of palliative patients, and besides health care aimed at satisfying basic human needs and prevention and early detection of symptoms, (s)he also cares about the patient rights and human dignity. (S)he is responsible for planning, conducting and evaluating health care with continuous assessment, patient and family education, and cooperation with all members of the interdisciplinary team. Adequate communication is a prerequisite for good psychological care, but it also makes it easier for the nurses themselves to experience loss. Also, it is important to provide the possibility of consultation and supervision for members of the interdisciplinary team as they face everyday situations that exhaust their psychological capacity and strength. If organized well, palliative care is the most human way to help the sufferer to end his life with decency. Therefore, it should be available to every person in need, according to the choice of patient, in all forms and at all levels of healthcare