September 28, 2023
September 28th 1200-1300 EST CPCNA is presenting Katie Nichol
Palliative Care in the Emergency Department
Many patients have palliative needs that would be better served outside of the acute care setting, but once admitted to the hospital, it may be difficult to transition back to the community. The emergency department (ED) is often the entry point to admission and can be pivotal in patients' subsequent healthcare journey. In 2018, a pilot project was implemented in a Canadian, tertiary care, academic ED, where a palliative care nurse specialist was available for consultation to ED health care professionals and patients with goals to: a) reduce admissions from the ED for patients choosing to have a palliative approach to their care; b) increase coordination between the ED and community resources; and c) mentor, role model, and provide education of a palliative approach to care with the ED staff.
This presentation will describe the outcomes of this ongoing project, more than 5 years after its inception and will discuss how the project has evolved and highlight lessons learned.

Katie has 19 years of nursing experience in oncology and palliative care. Her passion for palliative care is driven by personal and professional experiences that make her believe in the importance and value of a palliative approach to care. She completed my Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Ottawa in 2014 and is working towards obtaining her Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner diploma at the University of Ottawa.
October 25 1200 to 100 EST CPCNA is presenting Dr. Lorraine M. Wright
Softening Illness Suffering with Individuals and Families in Palliative Care: What are the clinical practices that matter?
From 45 years of clinical practice, research, and study, I will offer the most effective nursing care practices that can soften illness suffering in the midst of anticipated death. The presentation will provide actual clinical and personal illness narratives. The top three clinical practices that soften suffering will be discussed: curious compassion; acknowledging illness suffering; and offering hope. An illness journey touches on an individual and family's cultural, religious and/or spiritual beliefs and practices, which are often questioned during palliative which leads to the spiritual domain of life.

Dr. Wright is an international speaker, author/blogger, and consultant in family therapy and family nursing. She is also Professor Emeritus of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. Dr Wright was the Director, Family Nursing Unit, University of Calgary for 20 years, a unique clinical and research unit for couples/families suffering with serious illness.
In presentations, she offers her practice based research and research based clinical practice in conjunction with learnings from paradigm families/paradigm moments, interviewed in over 20 countries, of how best to assist families to soften suffering when experiencing serious illness and to promote family healing.
Dr. Wright is the author of 12 books and numerous chapters and articles, and has written/produced educational DVDs on therapeutic conversations with families and spirituality, suffering and illness. She has developed/codeveloped four clinical practice models for both generalist and advanced practice. Dr. Wright has been recognized with numerous awards, provincially, nationally and internationally.
Dr Wright has presented in over 30 countries. She resides in Calgary, Canada when not travelling. Her goal is to visit 100 countries to learn about the clinical practices with families experiencing illness suffering. The total is now 83 countries!