Constipation in Palliative Care
Constipation can cause significant pain and discomfort to the individual experiencing it and is one of the most common concerns for patients who are receiving palliative care. This Course focuses on the assessment and management of constipation in palliative care so as to reduce discomfort and improve quality of life.
Explain
Explain the significance of constipation in palliative careDescribe
Describe how the bowel function of a person receiving palliative care may be assessedIdentify
Identify management strategies for constipation in the person with advanced diseaseEducator
John Rosenberg
John Rosenberg is a Registered Nurse with a clinical background in community-based palliative care. He has worked as an educator and researcher in care of people at the end of life. John was responsible for the development of the postgraduate Chronic Disease Management and Palliative Care suite of courses at the University of Queensland School of Nursing and Midwifery. He is a co-author of the Framework of Competency Standards for Specialist Palliative Care Nursing Practice. John is the immediate past President of Palliative Care Nurses Australia Inc., the peak body for nurses in Australia caring for people at the end of life. He was the inaugural Director of the Calvary Centre for Palliative Care Research in Canberra with the Australian Catholic University. John currently works as a Research Fellow in the Centre for Research Excellence in End of Life Care at Queensland University of Technology.
Comments
Course Overview
Topics include:
- Causes and symptoms of constipation
- Assessment of bowel function
- Nursing management of constipation
Target audience
All healthcare professionals, particularly nurses working in palliative care, aged care, and acute and community care settings.
Purpose
Assist health professionals in the application of best available evidence and expert opinion for the assessment and management of constipation in palliative care.
Need
Constipation is a clinically significant cause of distress for people receiving palliative care and family members who care for them. With the majority of palliative care provided to those over the age of 65, constipation is sure to increase in prevalence. Whether caused by analgesics, impaired mobility, lowered fluid and food input, or disease progression, constipation requires a comprehensive assessment by nurses. With sound assessment, the nurse can identify a constellation of strategies to address the management of constipation in those receiving palliative care. However, there is a need for nursing and medical staff to be more aware of the incidence, causes and effects of constipation, as it is often poorly understood. The need for education in the causes of, approaches to assessment of, and intervention strategies for constipation, is required.
Health professionals in Australia that are registered with AHPRA are required to obtain continuing professional development (CPD) hours/points each year that relates to their context of practice, in order to comply with mandatory regulatory requirements.
