Discussion Surrounding Theory, Knowledge, and Practical Applications for Clinical Nurse Specialists to Aid Them in Caring for Parents with Cancer Who Have Young Children.

PURPOSE: To identify the theory, knowledge, and practical applications that clinical nurse specialists should consider adding to their "toolkit" to support them in caring for people affected by cancer with young children. DATA SOURCES: Expert opinion and relevant studies on the topic formed the basis of this article. CONCLUSION: A conversation with experts identified five key areas of knowledge important to supporting clinical nurse specialists in caring for people affected by cancer with young children: family-centered and systemic practice, nursing responsibilities and competencies, trauma-informed practice, adult life stages, and stages of child development. Key areas identified have relevance to all healthcare professionals working in cancer care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: This article provides a useful overview of psychological theories important to supporting healthcare professionals in caring for people affected by cancer. A discussion on the boundaries and competencies of the nursing role led to agreement about practical advice rooted in theory and knowledge that could benefit clinical practice. Concepts of emotional labor and the wounded healer were identified as important to inform reflection and supervision when caring for a parent affected by cancer who has a young family.

Participating in the personal care of a person living with a life-limiting illness in a hospice inpatient setting: the informal caregiver's perspective.

METHODS: Using semi-structured interviews, this descriptive qualitative research study examined informal caregivers' perspectives of participating in the personal care of a person living with a life-limiting illness within one hospice inpatient setting. Some 10 principal, informal caregivers of hospice inpatients were recruited by means of purposive sampling, using posters displayed in the hospice inpatient unit. Thus, participation was entirely 'opt-in'. A flash card was displayed at the beginning of each interview to determine a definition of personal care. Field notes and digital audio recording were used to capture data collected. RESULTS: Data were thematically analysed and demonstrated that informal caregivers' perceptions of personal care included everything that allowed the patient to remain the person they were. Informal caregivers reported an acceptable balance between being able to carry out personal care and hospice nursing staff involvement, despite no discussions being carried out to establish their wishes. Prior experiences of informal caregiving, and individual caregiver preparedness, contributed to negative and positive feelings about participating in personal care. Informal caregivers reported additional support and education needs associated with being able to participate in the personal care of patients on discharge and in the future. CONCLUSIONS: The emergent themes provide palliative care practitioners with direction for professional practice and research around supporting informal caregivers participating in personal care. Healthcare professionals need to clarify terminology of personal care by having dialogues with informal caregivers and acting on these accordingly. However, not all informal caregivers want such conversations. Consequently, healthcare professionals should approach this topic sensitively. Healthcare professionals ought to be asking informal caregivers if they wish to participate in personal care. Hospice nurses need to engage, support and educate informal caregivers about personal care. Furthermore, they should help to maintain and develop the skills of those informal caregivers who want to continue to play this role and not allow them to become deskilled.