Implementing an advanced care planning curriculum for pediatric nurses
Discussions on advanced care planning (ACP) early in a child’s disease process can relieve suffering and focus on quality of life (CPS, 2008). As per the National Guideline Clearinghouse (2016), children with life-limiting conditions and their carers have a central role in the decision-making process and care planning and therefore benefit from open and consistent…
Read MoreFacilitating transitions to relationally compassionate practitioners
Being in relation with “the other” (a patient, colleague) involves enacting an embodied understanding of five relational capacities: commitment, curiosity, compassion, competence, and corresponding (Doane and Varcoe, 2015). For nurses, this requires a shift from an epistemological lens of knowing the content involved in enacting capacities to the ontological turn towards being a practitioner that…
Read MoreA patient-centered approach to improve experiences and outcomes for head and neck patients
This project arose from needs I observed when working as a patient designated oncology nurse in the cancer clinic. Most of my practice involved those diagnosed with a head and neck cancer. These patients are very complex due to the intensity of their treatment, its side effects and other psychosocial issues common to the patient…
Read MoreEngaging clients and families in falls prevention
As a geriatric rehabilitation nurse who is passionate about improving care for my patients, I was excited to begin my fellowship, which focused on engaging clients and families in falls prevention. Falls are the predominant cause of injury for older adults across Canada, accounting for over 85% of all injury-related hospitalizations (RNAO, 2011). Baycrest Health…
Read MoreProviding person-centred care to those living with dementia
During her RNAO Fellowship, Cynthia focused on increasing staff knowledge and their ability to provide truely compassionate and person centred care to those living with dementia within a secured unit in a long-term care home. Initial information gathering consisted of a multi-faceted approach that included, but was not limited to: Review of evidenced based articles and Best Practice Guideline Data…
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