A framework for hospice nursing.

The paper presents a conceptual framework for hospice nursing. Nursing is viewed as assistance to the person whose self-care activities are insufficient to meet self-care needs. A literature review on needs of the hospice client is included toward developing a hospice nursing philosophy. The paper shows how guidelines for nursing practice in hospice can be structured around the client's self-care needs. Such guidelines include common nursing diagnoses, standards, policies and procedures. A suggested nursing documentation system is built upon the nursing process and structured around the patient's self-care needs.

Hillhaven Hospice: a free-standing, family-centered program.

Hillhaven Hospice, Tucson, exemplifies characteristics of the hospice concept: patient-and-family-centered care, emphasis on symptom control, provision of both inpatient and home care, a team approach to serving patients, and service to the family through their mourning period.

Mercy Hospice: a hospital-based program.

Coordinating the features of the hospice concept within the standard practices and policies of a general hosptial challenged those who developed the Mercy Hospice program at St. John's Hospital, Oxnard, CA. After two years' experience, they report on a program that has evolved to serve many different needs of terminally ill patients and their families both within the health care facility and in patients' homes.