Keywords

COVID-19, global palliative care, palliative care, palliative nursing, universal health coverage, well-being

 

Authors

  1. Rosa, William E. PhD, MBE, ACHPN, FAANP, FAAN
  2. Gray, Tamryn F. PhD, RN
  3. Chow, Kimberly RN, ANP-BC, ACHPN
  4. Davidson, Patricia M. PhD, RN, FAAN
  5. Dionne-Odom, J. Nicholas PhD, MSN, MA, ACHPN, FPCN
  6. Karanja, Viola BSN, RN
  7. Khanyola, Judy MSc, RCHN
  8. Kpoeh, Julius D. N. ASN, RN
  9. Lusaka, Joseph BSc HM, DCM, PA
  10. Matula, Samuel T. PhD, RN, PCNS-BC
  11. Mazanec, Polly PhD, AOCN, ACHPN, FPCN, FAAN
  12. Moreland, Patricia J. PhD, CPNP, FAAN
  13. Pandey, Shila MSN, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN
  14. de Campos, Amisha Parekh PhD, MPH, CHPN
  15. Meghani, Salimah H. PhD, MBE, RN, FAAN

Abstract

With the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and associated deaths rising exponentially, social fabrics on a global scale are being worn by panic, uncertainty, fear, and other consequences of the health care crisis. Comprising more than half of the global health care workforce and the highest proportion of direct patient care time than any other health professional, nurses are at the forefront of this crisis. Throughout the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, palliative nurses will increasingly exercise their expertise in symptom management, ethics, communication, and end-of-life care, among other crucial skills. The literature addressing the palliative care response to COVID-19 has surged, and yet, there is a critical gap regarding the unique contributions of palliative nurses and their essential role in mitigating the sequelae of this crisis. Thus, the primary aim herein is to provide recommendations for palliative nurses and other health care stakeholders to ensure their optimal value is realized and to promote their well-being and resilience during COVID-19 and, by extension, in anticipation of future public health crises.