In palliative care, it is fundamental to approach the patient with an interdisciplinary team, and nurses play a central role. The best practice and innovative methodologies in the approach of these patients were the topic of the 1 st Hospital da Luz Lisboa Symposium on Nursing Perspectives in Palliative Care , which took place last July 1. The symposium was organized by the nursing team of the Unit of Palliative and Continuing Care (UCCP) from Hospital da Luz Lisboa, now that this service celebrates 15 years of existence. “The updating of knowledge based on the latest scientific evidence is fundamental. Only this way, will we be able to promote continuous improvement in the quality of the healthcare provided, and contribute not to perpetuate the evitable suffering of the patient, with symptoms that are treatable”, stresses Nélia Trindade , the nursing coordinator of the UCCP, explaining the objectives and importance of the meeting. Throughout the day of work, the symposium counted with interventions by nursing professionals from Hospital da Luz and other units in the country, besides specialized nurses from the United Kingdom and Brazil – who came here to share their experience in the respective areas of activity, either in academic, hospital or community context. Topics such as the following were approached: History and theories of nursing and its connection with palliative care; Standard nursing language in palliative care; The evolution in palliative care teaching in nursing schools, in Portugal; Strategies of coping for the professionals in the area; The concept of spirituality in health (with demonstration of best practice by the Hospital da Luz UCCP team; Needs of research and investment in palliative care nursing. This was the 1 st Hospital da Luz symposium in the area – “ an initiative intended to be repeated in the future ”, promises Anisabel Soares , director of nursing of Hospital da Luz Lisboa. In the photo above , Nélia Trindade, Isabel Galriça Neto (the diretor of UCCP) and Anisabel Soares.
