Hospice and palliative care focus on comfort, dignity, symptom relief, resident goals, and family support. Nurses must understand the resident’s plan of care, hospice agency communication process, comfort medication orders, and when to notify hospice/provider.
Nurse Responsibilities
- Review hospice plan of care and comfort medication orders.
- Assess pain, dyspnea, anxiety, agitation, secretions, nausea, constipation, skin condition, oral intake, and family concerns.
- Administer comfort medications as ordered.
- Document symptom, medication, response, and follow-up.
- Notify hospice for uncontrolled symptoms, falls, wounds, respiratory distress, medication changes, death, family concerns, or change in condition.
- Respect resident goals and code status.