“The secret of the care of the patient is in caring for the patient.” – Dr. Francis Peabody, Harvard Medical School
Delivering the best possible care for hospice patients takes more than medical knowledge. It is also incredibly important for everyone on the team to be caring and compassionate. Indeed, demonstrating compassionate care has proven to have widespread patient benefits beyond simply improving patients’ moods. Compassionate care improves clinical outcomes by lowering the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to a decrease in the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with life-threatening illnesses.
Compassionate care is the “understanding and emotional resonance of healthcare providers with patients’ ailments in conjunction with the choice to act in the interest of alleviating their concerns, distress, pain, or suffering.” Studies show that compassionate care can improve clinical outcomes, but it also improves patient-provider communication and reduces caregiver burnout—two highly important metrics when it comes to patients in hospice care.
Nurses are on the front lines of hospice care, working closely with patients and spending an extended amount of time with them, their families, and their caregivers. Compassionate care nurses are there to ensure patients receive comfort, dignity, and quality of life during their final days. For National Nurses Week, we’re honoring and discussing the important role of compassionate care nurses and the positive impact they have on patients in hospice and palliative care.
The role of hospice nurses
Hospice nurses are an integral part of the hospice care team. Skilled, experienced Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs) provide hands-on care while assessing a patient’s needs and managing their pain and symptoms. Nurses also support family members and help educate them on how to assist in the patient’s care.
Compassionate care nurses, along with the multidisciplinary team of doctors and specialists, provide emotional and bereavement support and even assist with end-of-life planning. Their main goal is to improve the patient’s quality of life in their final days by alleviating pain and ensuring the best possible outcome.
Hospice nurses perform patient assessments and monitor the patient’s needs, then adjust care plans each day in coordination with the rest of the team. They also administer medications, treat and dress wounds, and keep a close eye on the patient’s comfort level. This makes the day-to-day caregiving duties more manageable for the patient and their family, helping to reduce stress brought on by a terminal diagnosis.
Hospice nurses offer empathy and compassion for their patients and families. Hospice care is an emotionally taxing time for everyone involved, and having a compassionate nurse can help maintain a sense of normalcy. Compassionate care nurses provide a calm and empathetic environment by encouraging positivity and joy in every interaction. They can also give caregivers much-needed respite so they can recharge, reduce stress, and be more focused. Patients can also benefit when everyone on their caregiving team (family members included) is calm, and often, their symptoms can be more manageable.
The positive impact of compassionate care nurses
Compassionate care nurses can create a close, healing relationship with each hospice patient. The trust the nurse earns encourages the patient to feel more comfortable sharing worries, concerns, and changes in conditions. This openness and trust helps the entire team better care for and react to changes in the patient, elevating care by improving diagnostic clarity, patient outcomes, and patient adherence to difficult treatment regimens.
When a patient and their caregiver have trust in their care team and feel provided for on the medical front, they may be more comfortable caring for themselves and be more secure in tasks such as taking medications, caring for wounds, and following other parts of the care plan. “Adherence to medical advice and treatment plans,” says Dr. Stephen G. Post, “is highly correlated with compassionate care.”
This is true across all disciplines of care. Considerable research of patients undergoing end-of-life care suggests that patients under compassionate care from nurses are typically calmer and feel safer. Conversely, studies show a strong association between lack of compassion and bouts of depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and feeling like a burden to family. When nurses exercise compassionate care and show interest in who the patient is as a person, 68% of patients reported an increased sense of purpose and most reported “an alleviation of stress and other benefits.” Lower levels of stress keep cortisol levels low; low levels of cortisol are associated with better wound healing, increased physical function and emotional health, and decreased levels of pain.
When the goal of hospice care is better quality of life in a patient’s final days, having compassionate care nurses on the care team should be a priority. Caring for the whole person, not just their symptoms, during a time of high stress and concern builds an invaluable trust system and creates an environment of safety, inclusion, and comfort for patients and families alike. The more everyone trusts each other, the more they can focus on the patient’s needs and desires. This is where compassionate care nurses shine the brightest.
Testimonials
We’ve provided examples from studies of the benefits and impact of compassionate care nurses in hospice care, but we believe that hearing straight from caregivers and families themselves is equally compelling.
At Heart to Heart Hospice, our nurses always lead with compassion in treating your loved ones. This level of care shows through in the glowing testimonials from the families and caregivers of our patients.
“A very special love and thanks to our nurse for helping me navigate and listen to my needs and wants for my sister.”
“I cannot share enough how great the nurse taking care of my father has been. This woman absolutely goes above and beyond and is incredibly punctual. I cannot express how thankful I am that she was handling this for us.”
“My mom was a patient with Heart to Heart Hospice until she passed away in November. Her wonderful nurse was so helpful and compassionate.”
“The RN assigned to us responded to all my text messages and phone calls, no matter what day or time it was. Her level of expertise in the hospice journey is tremendous. She showed amazing compassion to my father and to our family. She became part of our family.”
“Our experience with Heart to Heart Hospice was as pleasant as could be, given the difficult situation of our loved one receiving hospice care. My grandma’s hospice nurse was there for her even as she took her final breath. My grandmother felt comfortable under his care. He was very attentive to all of her needs. She even felt safe during her final stages of life.”
“The nurses who provided care for my mom stood out to us as so caring, compassionate, and loving. They are truly saints on Earth and we could never repay them for the service they provided! The care she received gave her the ability to pass in a peaceful and dignified way! We, as her family, also felt seen, heard, and cared for. Forever grateful!”
If you or your loved one are looking for a caring and compassionate team, reach out to us at Heart to Heart Hospice today.
