Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit

In the June 2020 issue of Critical Care Nurse, Martz et al discuss the outcomes associated with the use of a nurse-driven palliative care screening tool in the article "Outcomes Associated With a Nurse-Driven Palliative Care Screening Tool in the Intensive Care Unit" (2020;40[3]:23-30). We are nurses with varying backgrounds, including critical care, case management, and oncology, and we were drawn to this article because of the positive implications the use of palliative care screening tools may have on patients and their families, especially those in the critical care setting.¹  We commend Martz et al for their contribution to the body of literature surrounding palliative care. In the spirit of moving the field forward and to inform future interventions in this area, we seek clarification on some issues.

First, we have questions regarding the Palliative Care Screening Tool adapted from the report from the Improving Palliative Care in...