Study finds only those who believe in energy healing receive benefits

Abstract

The palliative care clinical nurse specialist (CNS) role is a dynamic but difficult one, associated with significant and ever-changing challenges and stress, for which practitioners might not have the requisite power to effect change, according to this descriptive exploratory study. Using a purposive sample of community palliative care CNSs from a hospice in Northern Ireland, 33 staff were invited to participate and 17 ultimately contributed to semi-structured interviews. The interviews explored the learning, development and support needs of staff that would enable them to realise the main constituents of their role: clinical practice, education, research, and leadership and management. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. The researchers identified and categorised three themes: the influence of organisational culture, the influence of the individual and solutions to developmental needs. In the organisational culture, stable working relationships and informal peer support were reportedly the most conspicuous forms of professional support mechanism, with more formal means such as mentoring and clinical supervision also appreciated. Nonetheless, stressful, often isolated, lone-working practices meant that the emotional effect of caring and individual self-care measures were not addressed satisfactorily. Most personal knowledge was described as obtained by practice-based ‘experiential’ learning; however, the nurses recognised the need for formal educational opportunities and qualifications. Whittaker E, Kernohan W, McLaughlin D (2014) Learning, development, and support needs of community palliative care clinical nurse specialists. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 20, 9, 425-433.