Journeys into Palliative Care: Roots and Reflections

✍ Scribed by Christina Mason

• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 189
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The combined practice area of the contributors to this book include social work, psychotherapy, sociology, counselling psychology, creative writing, nursing, and medicine. Several of the authors have multiple professions, and have come to palliative care later in their careers. Indeed, the combined skill of this group is impressive. Each chapter is unique and each story worthy in its own right. The commonalities are remarkable also. I recommend it to all palliative care professionals, when feeling a little-jaded about what we are doing and being swept along with the winds of changing technology and evidenced based practice, and to other health-care workers who feel an inclination to bring a little humanity to their care' - Omega Vol 51 (1) 77-86, 2005 'This book offers unique way of looking at caring for palliative parents by using the influence of the self. It also offers an opportunity for reflection how our experiences can enrich the experience of patient's faced with the prospect of dying. Professionals who enjoy reading stories will thoroughly enjoy this book' - International Journal of Palliative Nursing 'In a way it is surprising that palliative care has not produced more books like this: collections in which those engaged in the daily work of caring for dying and bereaved people share something of their motivations for entering this particular world, their experiences along the way, and their reasons for staying in or quitting it . . . Christina Mason was right to embark on this project. She has edited a book that deserves to be widely read' - Palliative Medicine 2003 'This is a delightful book. Although its focus is on professionals working in specialist palliative care, it would be useful for any practitioner wanting to learn more about reflective practice or their motivations for caring' - Journal of Community Nursing This rich collection of accounts explores the personal and professional experiences

✦ Table of Contents

Journeys into Palliative Care: Roots and Reflections......Page 5
Contents......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 10
Introduction......Page 11
1. Basic Themes......Page 17
2. Medicine and Palliative Care: The Bronze Serpent......Page 34
3. Early Challenges in Palliative Care from a Social Work Perspective: The Gift of Serendipity......Page 53
4. On Becoming a Practitioner: The View of a Psychologist......Page 64
5. Explorations in Creative Writing: ‘I Recharge Myself from My Experience’......Page 82
6. Learning in Palliative Care: Stories from and for my Journey......Page 101
7. Accompanying the Dying: The Spiritual Perspective......Page 121
8. The Loss of Children: Thinking the Unthinkable......Page 137
9. Reflections on my Roots and Personal Journey......Page 156
10. The Nursing Perspective: ‘Pain is the Breaking of the Shell that Encases your Understanding’......Page 167
11. Overview......Page 178
Details of Contributors......Page 184
Subject Index......Page 186
Author Index......Page 188