Mrs Andrea Firgau1
1Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service, Ryde, Australia
Biography:
Andrea Firgau has worked in various areas of cancer nursing including palliative care in the last 15 years. Her passion is to provide the best possible care to her patients with an open-minded and solution-focused approach. In her current role as palliative care and oncology CNC working with NSHNS she focusses on engaging consumers and their families in the important question: ‘what matters to you?’ to support them in their journey.
Abstract:
Background:
Northern Sydney Home Nursing Service (NSHNS) was caring for a 56-year-old female patient with a rare ovarian cancer requiring daily peritoneal fluid drainage via a port for symptom control. The procedure took over two hours each day and was essential for maintaining comfort. The patient expressed a wish to focus on quality of life and spend time with her family at their holiday home to create meaningful memories.
Aim:
To develop a safe, person-centred intervention that would enable the patient to achieve her goal of visiting her holiday home, while maintaining essential symptom management and reducing reliance on daily nursing visits and gaining autonomy.
Method:
A literature review was conducted to explore the feasibility of a family-led peritoneal drainage including symptom management strategies. No suitable evidence or options were identified. NSHNS obtained Clinical Governance approval to develop a carer education program, based on the existing nursing procedure and adapted to meet the health literacy needs of the patient’s husband. The program included practical training, safety protocols, and ongoing support.
Result:
The patient’s husband successfully completed the training and was able to perform the drainage procedure safely. This enabled the family to visit their holiday home before the patient’s death. The intervention also reduced NSHNS visits, allowing the family greater autonomy. Feedback from the patient and her husband highlighted the emotional significance of the experience and their hope that the program could benefit other families in similar circumstances.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the importance of person-centred innovation in palliative care. The development of a tailored carer education program enabled safe symptom management outside the clinical setting, fulfilled the patient’s end-of-life wishes, and enhanced family. The success of this initiative supports its potential for broader application in appropriate cases.