Linda Norlander. Washington, DC: American Nurses’ Association; 2001. Softcover. 92 pages.
This book is a resource for all nurses who care for end-of-life patients and their families. The book is well organized and easy to read. Each chapter is divided into sections that outline 3 nursing roles: clinician, advocate, and guide. Every chapter begins with a case study that introduces the content of the chapter, allowing the reader to relate the content to his or her own experiences and patients. Additional case studies provide a practical application to the content.
To Comfort Always is organized to walk the nurse and other healthcare team members through the various stages of the end-of-life process. The author offers details and definitions of this process, as well as strategies for approaching issues such as future planning using advance directives and pain and symptom management. A discussion on the holistic view of suffering is also...