The document discusses the evolving role of specialist palliative care nurses in the community setting over the last 5 years. It explores how their role has expanded from more generalist care to a position of specialism, requiring additional skills and qualifications. The roles of Macmillan nurses and clinical specialist palliative care nurses are now largely similar, focused on clinical practice, education, management, and applying relevant research. Specialist palliative care nurses provide expertise for patients with complex, changing needs that generalist nurses cannot meet. However, referrals to specialist nurses are sometimes inconsistent due to lack of understanding about when they are appropriate.

1. Essay on Palliative Care
Within this assignment the writer aims to identify and explore in depth the role development of
the specialist palliative care nurses in the community setting, and in particular how their role has
evolved over the last 5 years. The writer aims for the first part of the assignment to provide the
reader with a brief background into the development of palliative care and a history of how the
traditional role of a palliative care nurse has expanded from a more generalist perspective to that of a
position of specialism. The writer will highlight the essential skills and qualities deemed crucial from
a professional perspective in implementing such an expanded nursing role, with particular attention
focusing on the impact this role development...show more content...
The work carried out by both Macmillan nurses and clinical specialist palliative care nurses differ
only slightly, regardless of where they work (Cambridge University Hospitals NHS 2007).
According to Seymour et al (2002) the role of the Macmillan nurse has evolved to that of the clinical
nurse specialist. A clinical nurse specialist was defined by The Royal College of Nursing in 1988 as
having gained through further training an advanced expertise and knowledge in a particular branch
of nursing care. They further clarified the role as having responsibility for clinical practice,
education, management and having knowledge of relevant research on their specialist area of
nursing (Newbury et al 2008).
Palliative care patient's medical needs can change rapidly and may require the expertise of
specialist palliative care nurses. Unlike generalist nurses, specialist palliative care nurse's sole
priorities lie with patients with palliative care needs. Referrals to specialist nurses are made when
the needs of palliative care patients are becoming more complex and their symptoms harder to
manage (Buckley 2008). However a review carried out by Ahmed (2004) suggests that there is lack
of understanding of when and to whom referrals should be made to making them inconsistent. This
lack of knowledge could be a barrier to the
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