Literature Review

All posts tagged with “Clinical News | Physician & Nursing News.”



Palliative care in the intensive care unit: An integrative review of intensive care unit health care professionals' views and experiences

04/02/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative care in the intensive care unit: An integrative review of intensive care unit health care professionals' views and experiences Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing (DCCN); by Berit Lindahl and Susan Kirk; May-Jun 2025 ... Our findings suggest there is variation in how palliative care in the ICU is conceptualized and interpreted. Intensive care unit professionals need enhanced competencies and training to develop their confidence in providing palliative care and improve role clarity. Such training should focus on serious illness conversations with patients/families and interdisciplinary teamwork. Integration of palliative consultants into the ICU could be further developed.

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Managing oncology nurse burnout through peer support, emotional intelligence

04/01/25 at 03:00 AM

Managing oncology nurse burnout through peer support, emotional intelligence Oncology Nursing News; by Pattie Jackel, MN, RN, AOCN; 3/28/25 Debriefing after patient loss, supporting patients at the end of life, and finding outlets outside of work can help oncology nurses avoid burnout. ... Pattie Jakel, MN, RN, AOCN, spoke with Oncology Nursing News® about burnout in oncology nursing and ways to avoid it while providing palliative care to patients. ... You have to have a strong network and support. And my husband is…an architect, so medicine is not his thing, and in the beginning, he’d be like, “Pattie, I can only hear one sad story a week because I can’t hear all your sad stories.” ... "Working in acute care, I saw some horrific death and dying that occurred for our patients. We would definitely debrief afterwards, bring the group together 5 minutes. Sometimes we did longer ones." [Continue reading ...]

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As ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church

04/01/25 at 03:00 AM

As ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church The Conversation; by Mathew Schmalz; 3/31/25 An individual’s “right to die” is becoming more accepted across the globe. ... Assisted suicide is now permitted in 10 U.S. states and in Washington. In 2025,five more states are set to consider “right to die” legislation. The “right to die” can refer to several means of dying. ... [Descriptions of terms "right to die," "euthanasia," "assisted suicide/dying."] ...

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Hospital workers share 26 deathbed regrets they’ve heard that changed their lives

03/31/25 at 02:00 AM

Hospital workers share 26 deathbed regrets they’ve heard that changed their lives Boredpanda; by Ruta Zumbrickaite; 3/28/25 While painful, regret can also be a motivator for learning and growth, encouraging us to avoid repeating past mistakes and make better decisions in the future. We guess that’s why self-help author Debbie Ford once said, “Pain can be our greatest teacher.” Someone on the web asked hospital workers, “What regrets do you hear from dying patients?”, and folks who’ve been there in people’s last moments shared the words that hit them the hardest. Here’s a list of some of their most profound responses.  

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Bioethics Artificial Intelligence Advisory (BAIA): An Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework for bioethical clinical decision support

03/29/25 at 03:25 AM

Bioethics Artificial Intelligence Advisory (BAIA): An Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) framework for bioethical clinical decision support Cureus; by Taposh P. Dutta Roy; 3/12/25 Healthcare professionals face complex ethical dilemmas in clinical settings in cases involving end-of-life care, informed consent, and surrogate decision-making. These nuanced situations often lead to moral distress among care providers. This paper introduces the Bioethics Artificial Intelligence Advisory (BAIA) framework, a novel and innovative approach that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to support clinical ethical decision-making. The BAIA framework integrates multiple bioethical approaches, including principlism, casuistry, and narrative ethics, with advanced AI capabilities to provide comprehensive decision support. 

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[Switzerland] The use of artificial nutrition at the end-of-life: a cross-sectional survey exploring the beliefs and decision-making among physicians and nurses

03/29/25 at 03:00 AM

[Switzerland] The use of artificial nutrition at the end-of-life: a cross-sectional survey exploring the beliefs and decision-making among physicians and nursesSupport Care Cancer; by Christophe Pala, Claudia Gamond, Steffen Eychmuller, Francois Herrmann, Sophie Pautex; 3/17/25 Background: The use of artificial nutrition in the last month of life raises many concerns for patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Whereas decisions on artificial nutrition at the end of life are common they may be mostly guided by physicians and nurses' beliefs, and patients' requests more than by robust evidence. Fostering palliative care education is pivotal. Our results emphasize the need to improve physicians and nurses' awareness of the complex interplay between values and evidence when decisions concerning artificial nutrition are taken.

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Hidden battles: Keeping cancer secret

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

Hidden battles: Keeping cancer secret Harvard Health Publishing - Harvard Medical School; by Maureen Salamon; post is dated 4/1/25, retrieved from the internet 3/25/25 Some people choose to conceal their diagnosis and treatment. Here's why — and reasons that approach can sometimes backfire. ... [In addition to privacy motives, Cristina Pozo-Kaderman, a senior psychologist at Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute] says cancer patients may also wish to:

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‘Show up and share’: How one UCLA ICU helps patients and staff live with dying

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

‘Show up and share’: How one UCLA ICU helps patients and staff live with dying Los Angeles Times; by Corinne Purtill; 3/20/25 

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Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation Fellowship Grant Program now open

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation Fellowship Grant Program now open American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM); Press Release; 3/25/25 We are pleased to announce that the Y.C. Ho/Helen and Michael Chiang Foundation has awarded AAHPM a grant to support fellowship training programs for the 2026-2027 academic year. [This grant] is available to partially support a fellowship training program that operates an adult accredited program offering a pediatric focused hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program or pediatric hospice and palliative medicine fellowship training program accredited through the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) preparing physicians to practice as a pediatric hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) subspecialist following training. This funding initiative is open to accredited hospice and palliative care fellowship training programs, not to individual applicants. Funding will go to support part of the salary and benefits of a single fellow. The application cycle is open now through Wednesday, April 23 at 5pm CT. Details on funding priorities, eligibility criteria, and the application are available on the AAHPM website. [From the AAHPM site:] One award of $45,000 will be presented for the 2026-2027 academic year with the opportunity to renew for one additional year following an evaluation. [Continue reading ...]

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Daughter embraces mom’s hospice journey

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

Daughter embraces mom’s hospice journey City Sun Times, Phoenix, AZ; by Lin Sue Flood; 3/25/25 As a nurse, Robin Benton is used to caring for people who are ill. But it’s different when your mother is the one who is sick. Her mom, Charlotte Brewer, a former nurse herself, has multiple myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer. In March 2024, the 80-year-old Valley resident decided to stop curative treatments in favor of comfort care with Hospice of the Valley, where she worked for over 10 years, before retiring in 2007. ... Charlotte’s Hospice of the Valley nurse, Kelly Langston, admires the way the family is living this stage of life with great intention, creating new ways to deepen their love for each other. “They came up with an idea for a hug shirt,” shared Kelly. “Everyone in the family painted their arms then took turns hugging each other — stamping an imprint of encircled arms on the shirts. It’s a way to feel each other’s hugs even when they aren’t together.” [Continue reading ...]

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Palliative care clinic offers supportive care for patients with end-stage heart failure

03/27/25 at 03:00 AM

Palliative care clinic offers supportive care for patients with end-stage heart failure Yale School of Medicine; by Rachel Martin; 3/25/25 ... Michael Beasley, MD, [Yale] assistant professor of medicine (cardiovascular medicine), and Nora Segar, MD, [Yale] assistant clinical professor (general internal medicine) and director of palliative medicine at the Saint Raphael Campus of Yale New Haven Hospital, recently established a new outpatient clinic to provide dedicated palliative care for people with end-stage heart failure. ... “For many patients with advanced heart failure, hospice care does not meet their needs until very late in their course,” said Segar, an early champion of the clinic. “Instead, by providing early palliative care outside of the hospital, when it’s not a time of crisis, we can help patients accept and cope with their prognosis, manage their symptoms, and continue making plans for the future.” New patients receive longer appointments, which allows the team to hear their stories and start building relationships with them. [Continue reading ...]Editor's note: For all palliative and hospice leaders, we highlight this last statement: "New patients receive longer appointments, which allows the team to hear their stories and start building relationships with them."

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Assisted ventilation withdrawal in motor neuron disease: updated results

03/26/25 at 03:00 AM

Assisted ventilation withdrawal in motor neuron disease: updated results BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care; by Lucy Bleazard, Jonathan Palmer, David Wenzel, Thomas Jeffery, and Christina Faull; 3/24/25 Introduction: Patients with ventilator-dependent motor neuron disease (MND) may request withdrawal of their assisted ventilation. Facilitating this process as a healthcare professional (HCP) can be emotionally and practically challenging. The Association for Palliative Medicine (APM) issued guidance to support HCPs and invited anonymised accounts of the withdrawal process to provide an update on the guidance. ... Results: Younger patients tended to need higher doses to achieve adequate symptom management prior to withdrawal. Practices of weaning the ventilator varied significantly between respondents. The median time to death following withdrawal of ventilation was 30 min, with three-quarters of patients dying within 2 hours. Conclusion: This is the largest data set to date regarding the withdrawal of assisted ventilation in MND. This updated analysis reaffirms that a personalised, titrated approach remains appropriate and effective. The revised APM Guidance 2025 incorporates new sections on recommendations for managing the ventilator. [Continue reading ...]

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Bringing palliative care to every patient with cancer: A conversation with Janet L. Abrahm, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO

03/25/25 at 03:00 AM

Bringing palliative care to every patient with cancer: A conversation with Janet L. Abrahm, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO The ASCO Post, in partnership with the American Society of Clinical Oncology; by Jo Cavallo; 3/25/25 Janet L. Abrahm, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO, ... has become a widely recognized leader in the field of supportive care and palliative medicine, serving for nearly a decade on the leadership team of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and helping to craft the first Hospice and Palliative Medicine certifying examination offered by the American Board of Internal Medicine. ... In a wide-ranging interview with The ASCO Post, Dr. Abrahm discussed the importance of providing every patient with cancer access to palliative medicine throughout survivorship, how oncologists can become more effective communicators, and strategies to alleviate patients’ suffering at the end of life.

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Carolyn Hax: Does sibling love justify traveling to abusive mom’s deathbed?

03/25/25 at 03:00 AM

Carolyn Hax: Does sibling love justify traveling to abusive mom’s deathbed?The Washington Post, Washington, DC; 3/24/25 Sister asks the letter writer to join her at their dying mom’s bedside — despite their PTSD-inducing childhoods. [The rest of this article may require a subscription to The Washington Post.]Editor's note: Even if you're not able to access the full article, what does this question stir in you? Be aware that many family caregivers (or simply family members) face complex, conflicted relationships with the persons they are tending--or in this case, even considering visiting or not. Be attuned to these common, everyday occurrences that your direct care interdisciplinary team members regularly navigate. What family systems' education and support do you provide for them?

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HPNA mourns loss of founding member

03/24/25 at 03:00 AM

HPNA mourns loss of founding member Hospice & Palliative Nurses Association; Press Release; 3/21/25 The Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) mourns the loss of founding member Madalon O’Rawe Amenta, RN, MN, PhD. Dr. Amenta was inspired to join the hospice movement in the 1970s after having read Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ On Death and Dying. “Dr. Amenta’s unwavering dedication to hospice and palliative care inspired generations of nurses,” said HPNA President Masako Mayahara, PhD, RN, FAAN, CHPN®, FPCN®. “We are grateful for her leadership, which allowed us to grow our community to nearly 8,000 hospice and palliative care professionals. Her legacy will be honored through our mission to advance nursing expertise in hospice and palliative care through education, advocacy, leadership, and research.” [Continue reading ...]

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Health care system adaptation and resilience during the wildfire crisis

03/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Health care system adaptation and resilience during the wildfire crisisJAMA Network; by Attila J. Hertelendy, PhD, Jeremy Maggin, MD, MS, and Gregory Ciottone, MD; 3/19/25 ... Within a span of hours, the Palisades and Eaton fires, propelled by record-breaking Santa Ana winds reaching 150 miles per hour, consumed more than 37,000 acres, destroyed more than 16,000 structures, and claimed 29 lives. All told, greater than 186,000 residents were placed under evacuation orders. ... The experience in Los Angeles County demonstrates the value of maintaining dual-purpose resources: facilities and personnel who can transition between routine operations and emergency response functions. This approach is exemplified by Kaiser Permanente’s successful deployment of mobile health vehicles and the use of clinically trained administrative leaders in direct patient care roles during crisis events. Key elements of successful resource mobilization include:

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‘Early discussions on what to expect can lessen the strain’

03/21/25 at 03:00 AM

‘Early discussions on what to expect can lessen the strain’ Nursing Times; by Kylie Chaffin; 3/19/25 The article explains the pros and cons of nutrition and hydration at end of life and the several types of artificial nutrition and hydration that can be used, written in a way patients and families can understand. Resources and educational articles, like this one, can also be a great way to introduce new or even more effective ways nurses and care team members can support patients and families when pursuing a palliative approach to their health and wellbeing. My question for readers is, “Should the conversation of end-of-life, hospice and palliative care, and nutritional changes, be initiated sooner rather than later in patients with a terminal diagnosis?”

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Hastening death by stopping eating and drinking: Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe

03/21/25 at 03:00 AM

Hastening death by stopping eating and drinking: Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe GeriPal Podcasts; by Hope Wechkin, Thaddeus Pope, and Josh Briscoe Eric and Alex have featured discussions about complex bioethical concepts around caring for people at the end of life, including voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED), and multiple episodes about the ethical issues surrounding medical aid in dying (MAID). Recently, discussion has emerged about how these issues intertwine in caring for patients with advancing dementia who have stated that they would not want to continue living in that condition: for those with an advanced directive to stop eating and drinking, how do we balance caring for their rational past self and their experiential current self? Should these patients qualify for medical aid in dying medications? And is there a middle path to provide some degree of comfort while also hastening the end of life?

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‘Dying people are incredible teachers’: Hospice nurse leans on personal loss experience to speak about end of life, write children’s books

03/21/25 at 03:00 AM

‘Dying people are incredible teachers’: Hospice nurse leans on personal loss experience to speak about end of life, write children’s books Dayton Daily News, Dayton, OH; by Beth Anspach; 3/20/25 Kim Vesey has experienced more than her share of loss. Her husband, Les, passed away in 2006 of colon cancer. “He died at home with Hospice care,” Vesey said. “Having worked in this area and experiencing it myself, this took it all to a much deeper level and changed my understanding of the process of grief.” ... She was hired for her first Hospice job in 1985. “It’s taught me a lot about life and living and what is important,” she said. “Dying people are incredible teachers.” ... After losing her husband, Vesey continued her work in Hospice care. Then in 2017, her daughter Sarah, who had struggled with severe asthma her entire life, passed away after going into cardiac arrest. She was just 29 years old and left behind a 4-year-old son, Warren. She was also pregnant with her second child. “My experience of losing my daughter shined a light on the struggle for children who are grieving,” Vesey said.“ ... Today, Vesey has published four books with two additional scheduled to be published this year, including a book about losing a beloved pet. ...

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From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers

03/20/25 at 03:00 AM

From heroes to burnout: How we failed our frontline health workers MedPage Today's KevinMD.com, and excerpt from Health Care Nation; by Tom Lawry; 3/15/25 Of all the lessons learned from fighting a pandemic, none was more frightening or important than discovering how dependent the system is on how we treat our doctors, nurses, and frontline caregivers.  They were already in short supply, with burnout on the rise, when the pandemic hit. As multiple waves of COVID-19 variants washed over us, frontline health workers stepped in at great risk and personal sacrifice to care for highly infectious patients. ... Some witnessed more deaths on a double shift than they did in a normal year. They delivered the bad news to families and managed end-of-life care. They were often the last face and warm voice a COVID-19 victim saw and heard. In the end, they not only saved lives but saved the system from total collapse. ... We called them heroes. And we promised to do better in how we treated them once the COVID-19 crisis passed. Promises made should be promises kept. While we continue to talk about workforce burnout using polite terms with concern in our voices, let us be clear: A system with a mission of healing continues to harm in record numbers the very people in short supply who are there to take care of the rest of us. ... [Click on the title's link for more.]

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Certified nurses at Mount Sinai: Representing a commitment to excellence and to their profession

03/20/25 at 03:00 AM

Certified nurses at Mount Sinai: Representing a commitment to excellence and to their profession Mount Sinai Today - Featrued, Nursing; 3/18/25 Nursing Certification is an important, independent validation of specialized nursing knowledge and expertise that meet or exceed professional standards. In fact, empirical evidence shows an association between nursing certification and better patient outcomes, ... Across the Mount Sinai Health System, an impressive near 50 percent of nurses have earned board certification in their chosen specialties. Their patients, families, colleagues, and teams are the direct beneficiaries of nursing expertise that is recognized as meeting or exceeding the highest professional standards. ... [From Carla Alves-Miraldo, MS, MSN-Ed, RN, CHPN, KP6,] "Becoming a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse is a reflection of my commitment to ensuring every patient receives comfort, dignity, and compassionate care during life’s most challenging moments. This certification is more than a title—it represents my dedication to guiding patients and families with expertise, empathy, and unwavering support."

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Impacting end-of-life care with new healthcare legislation: Patient-Directed Medical Orders (PDMO) in advance care planning

03/20/25 at 03:00 AM

Impacting end-of-life care with new healthcare legislation: Patient-Directed Medical Orders (PDMO) in advance care planningAmerican Nurse - State Nurses Associations - Florida News Journal; by Meredith Fischer, BSN, RN, CHPN; 3/19/25 Over the summer, a friend’s elderly father underwent resuscitation and intubation because his nursing facility could not locate his Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO) or Advanced Directive (AD). ... New legislation is being filed for a Patient-Directed Medical Order (PDMO) document designed to address the shortcomings of the ADs and DNRO forms—currently the primary tools for addressing end-of-life care preferences in Florida. The PDMO form originates from the POLST paradigm, which has been adopted by most states since its inception in Oregon in the early 1990s (National POLST, 2022). Healthcare professionals recognized that many individuals were not receiving the end-of-life care outlined in their ADs and DNROs due to accessibility, clarity, and practicality (National POLST, 2022).

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AI scribes: Can technology do more than free doctors from data entry?

03/20/25 at 03:00 AM

AI scribes: Can technology do more than free doctors from data entry? Penn LDI - Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics; by Hoag Levins; 3/17/25 Since the widespread adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems in the 1990s, the health care industry has been on a relentless quest to digitally optimize the doctor-patient interaction. Today, many predict this pursuit will be dramatically changed by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into nearly all aspects of EHR systems, transforming patient care and clinical workflows in ever more revolutionary ways. AI-powered EHRs are now theoretically capable of automating administrative tasks, providing real-time clinical insights, personalizing treatment plans, and allowing health care providers to focus more on patient care and less on data entry.

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Willow Point Nursing Center raises pay by nearly 20%

03/19/25 at 03:00 AM

Willow Point Nursing Center raises pay by nearly 20% WIVT Binghampton, Vestal, NY; by Samantha Rich; 3/17/25 A local nursing home is recognizing the selfless contributions of its employees by significantly increasing its pay scale. The Broome County Legislature recently approved 16-20% pay raises for multiple healthcare roles at Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Vestal. The pay scale was raised for Supervising Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). Willow Point has also added several new openings in each role.

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MedPAC recommends Congress tie physician pay to inflation for 2026

03/19/25 at 03:00 AM

MedPAC recommends Congress tie physician pay to inflation for 2026 Healthcare Dive; by Susanna Vogel; 3/17/25 Dive Brief:

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