Michelle Farnan Discusses the Impact of Using a Palliative Care Screening Tool

Michelle Farnan, RN, MSN, OCN, palliative care nurse coordinator, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, discusses the impact of a palliative care screening tool for inpatient oncology patients.

Farnan says the tool, which is currently used at her institution, looks at the patient’s diagnosis, comorbid conditions, functional status and additional symptoms related to what the patient is experiencing.

The study validated that with oncology patients, the level of distress is high and that nurses need to find a time prior to an oncology patient’s first hospital visit to begin the discussion on palliative care, Farnan says.

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