DIRECTIONS FOR PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING IN CANADA - REPORT OF A NATIONAL SURVEY

This paper reports the results of a national survey of palliative care nurses conducted following a meeting of nurses at the Fifth Canadian Palliative Care Association Conference in 1993. The intent of the surv ey was to obtain information about Canadian palliative care nurses's p erceptions of practice and professional issues. Eighty percent of resp ondents believed that palliative care nurses should form a palliative care nurses' organization, with the majority recommending that this oc cur under the auspices of the Canadian Palliative Care Association. Ke y issues of importance to palliative care nurses were identified. The two major issues of concern were (a) the need to develop standards of practice and (b) educational needs of palliative care nurses. Responde nts also emphasized the importance of maintaining and fostering an int erdisciplinary approach to palliative care. Results of this survey are to be further discussed at the Sixth Canadian Palliative Care Associa tion Conference to be held in Halifax in October 1995.