Nurse's role in the palliative care of the patients with advanced dementia

Identifier:  TFG:2098

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TFG2098

Authors:  Marín Hernández, Nayibe

Abstract:
Dementia is a chronic disease with a high impact on Western society due to the increase in life expectancy. Consequently, the correct introduction of palliative care in the patient with cognitive knowledge has to be studied due to the difficulty represented by the identification of pain and other symptoms of discomfort. This makes the role of nursing in the patient with advanced dementia at the end of life is studied because the nursing staff is the main responsible for the assessment of pain and the recognition of other associated symptoms in the patients. Its study is important to identify strategies in the clinical management of this type of patient. Aim: To review on the role of nurse in palliative care in patients with advanced dementia at the end of life. Methods: Systematic searches of academic databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and SciELO) were conducted to identify research studies, published between 2014 to 2018 with full text in Spanish or English. This literature review identified 10 articles related to the role of nursing in palliative care in the patient with advanced dementia at the end of life. Results: The main limitation in the implementation of palliative care in the patient with dementia is the lack of recognition of pain and other associated symptoms. This has been associated in the lack of skills in the use of scales of pain assessment of the patient with cognitive impairment, the need for specialized training and the influence of temporary contracts and the lack of professionals to assume the burden of patients that hinder the relationship between nursing and patient. Improvements have been found in the pain and other frequent symptoms of the patient with advanced dementia with the introduction of non-pharmacological treatments and in the introduction of spiritual care. Finally, it has been found that the communication skills between nursing, multidisciplinary team, patient and family are reflected in the final care received by the patient. Conclusions: The introduction of palliative care in the patient with advanced dementia at the end of life will depend on the recognition of pain and its different manifestations, as well as the communication skills among the nursing staff, multidisciplinary team, patient and family members.