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Gerontologic Palliative Care Nursing, 1e

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Both of these doctorally prepared nurse educators are fellows in the American Academy of Nursing and are involved with palliative care. There are an additional 37 contributing authors. The book has three parts and 25 chapters: Part one, Promoting Quality of Life During The Dying Process contains nine chapters: 1. Cultural and Spiritual Backgrounds of Older Adults, 2. Death and an Aging Society, 3. Community Based Pallative Care for Older Adults, 4. Pallation and End of Life Care Across Health Care Settings, 5. Ethical and Legal Aspects of Dying and Health Care Resources Allocation, 6. Communication issues in Advance Care Planning, 7. Advance Directives: Older Adults with Dementia, 8. Family Caregivers of Dying Elders: Burdens and Opportunities, and 9. Suffering, Loss, and Bereavement. Part two, Disease-Related Pallative Care Nursing has seven chapters: 10. End-Stage Heart Disease, 11. Cancer, !2. Stroke, Coma, and Brain Death, 13. Dementia and Neurodegenerative Illness, 14. End-Stage Renal Disease and Discontinuation of Dialysis, 15. Chronic Lung Disease, and 15. End-Stage Liver Disease. Part three, Symptom Management and Related Issues has nine chapters: 17. Dyspnia, 18 Anxiety, Depression, and Delirium, 19. Gastrointestinal Symptoms, 20. Fatigue, 21, Pain Assessment and Management, 22. Skin Care Needs of Pallative Care Patients, 23. Nutrition and Hydration, 24. Polypharmacy, and 25 Peri-Death Nursing Care.
Most chapters start with a case study some of which contain questions for reflection and introduction, present content, and end with case study conclusions, conclusions and references most of which are from the 1990s to 2003. Chapters are clarified with boxes, figures, and tables and most have a box for evidence-based practice containing the research reference, research problem, design, sample and setting, methods, results, implications for nursing practice and conclusion. Theories such as theoretical stages and tasks of grief are presented (p. 155). Assessment tools such as physical fitness, feelings, daily activities, social activities, social support, change in health, overall health, and quality of life are included (pp. 174-175.) Peri-death Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Muslim, Jewish, Mormon, Cuban-American, Native American, Appalacian, Homong, Japanese, Mexican-American, and Black-American traditions are presented. This 560 page book ends with an index.
The book contains 15 measurable AACN competencies required for quality care of the dying. It presents a trajectory of caring that follows the physical and mental decline of people with specific chronic diseases. Holistic interventions are emphasized. This is a particularly important book to help faculty incorporate end of life content into curricula, for students to learn what they will need to know to work with an aging population, and for any nurse working with people at the end of their life.