Implications for HPNA
Issues related to compassion fatigue and its impact on HPNA members both personally and professionally have been voiced by the membership at various forums. The need for additional programs and services to provide support to its members is evident. In addition, because hospice and palliative nurses work in a variety of practice settings, including patient homes, their access to both formal and informal resources related to ethical issues varies greatly. This was reflected in our survey results. Educational programs and support systems put in place need to be flexible enough to accommodate these various situations. The results of this survey provide information about what type of programs and support are needed. That the need is present is not surprising, given the responsibilities of hospice and palliative nurses in caring for the seriously ill and dying from many different cultures and belief systems.
The Bioethics SIG was developed to provide support, knowledge, skills, and resources for HPNA members to assist them in addressing ethical issues. The HPNA 4 Pillars of Excellence (Education, Leadership, Advocacy, and Research) helped guide the development of the SIG. Because the goal is to focus on the needs of the membership, it was essential to obtain input from the HPNA members regarding the type of ethical issues that they are dealing with and how HPNA can best support and help members. The results of the survey have been used to help plan SIG activities and to help determine topics for the companion ethics series published in the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. Current HPNA Bioethics Resources are summarized in Figure 2.
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Figure 2.
Current HPNA Bioethics Resources.