Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Social Work in Palliative Care

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Essentials of Palliative Care

  • 3320 Accesses

Abstract

Palliative care has a unique place in medicine. It calls us to acts of compassion, touches our deepest fears, raises profound questions of life and death, and offers the possibility of transcendence. Social work, with its rich tradition of understanding and assisting individuals in extreme circumstances, is well positioned to address the special challenges faced by patients, families, and medical team members.

You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can to help you not only die peacefully, but also to live until you die.

– Dame Cicely Saunders

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. National Association of Social Workers. Standards for social work practice in palliative and end-of-life care. Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Tuckman BW. Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychol Bull. 1965;63(6):384–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Harrington SE, Smith TJ. The role of chemotherapy at the end-of-life: “When is enough, enough?”. J Am Med Assoc. 2008;299(22):2667–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Crary J, Lucas J, Carter J. A journey through the seven “C’s”, a care plan model. Keck School of Medicine; 2000. Unpublished.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Blackhall LJ, Murphy ST, Frank G, Michel V, Azen S. Ethnicity and attitudes toward patient autonomy. J Am Med Assoc. 1995;274(10):820–5.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fadiman A. The spirit catches you and you fall down: a Hmong child, her American doctors, and the collision of two cultures. 1st ed. New York: Noonday; 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rosenblatt PC. The culturally competent practitioner. In: Doka KJ, Tucci AS, editors. Diversity and end-of-life care. Washington, DC: Hospice Foundation of America; 2009. p. 21–32.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Evans WG, Tulsky JA, Back AL, Arnold RM. Communication at times of transitions: how to help patients cope with loss and re-define hope. Cancer J. 2006;12(5):417–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Charon R. Narrative medicine: a model for empathy, reflection, profession, and trust. J Am Med Assoc. 2001;286(15):1897–902.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Farber S. Difficult choices: making decisions when cure is not possible. In: Doka KJ, Tucci AS, editors. Cancer and end-of-life care. Washington, DC: Hospice Foundation of America; 2010. p. 25–38.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Figley CR, editor. Compassion fatigue: coping with secondary traumatic stress disorder in those who treat the traumatized. New York: Brunner/Mazel; 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pfifferling JH, Gilley K. Overcoming compassion fatigue. Fam Pract Manag. 2000;7(4):39–44.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Boyle G. Tattoos on the heart: the power of boundless compassion. New York: Free Press; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Practice Residency Program, Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA, USA

    Janet Lucas L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W.

  2. Palliate Care Consult Service, Huntington Hospital, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Bill Mejia L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W.

  3. Huntington Cancer Center, Huntington Hospital, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Anne Riffenburgh L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W.

Authors
  1. Janet Lucas L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bill Mejia L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anne Riffenburgh L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Janet Lucas L.C.S.W., B.S., M.S.W. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University, New Haven, 06520, Connecticut, USA

    Nalini Vadivelu

  2. Citrus Road 278, River Ridge, 70123, Louisiana, USA

    Alan David Kaye

  3. Keck School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Medic, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90035, California, USA

    Jack M. Berger

Appendices

Review Questions

  1.  1.

    Palliative care social workers contribute their specialized skills and services in the following way(s):

    1. (a)

      Collaboration with fellow members of the medical team

    2. (b)

      Interaction with patients and families

    3. (c)

      Promotion of social work ideals through research and training

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  2.  2.

    Which of the following is not an example of the skills and tools used by palliative care social workers:

    1. (a)

      Familiarity with the biopsychosocial stages of the dying process

    2. (b)

      The pros and cons of various pain medications

    3. (c)

      Awareness of the effect of ethnic, religious, and cultural differences

    4. (d)

      Knowledge of available community resources and discharge planning options

  3.  3.

    Duties of the palliative care social worker include:

    1. (a)

      Witnessing durable power of attorney documents

    2. (b)

      Facilitating family conferences

    3. (c)

      Acting as a liaison between the patient/family and medical staff

    4. (d)

      Both b and c

  4.  4.

    In the formative stage of team building, which of the following is not a responsibility of the palliative care social worker?

    1. (a)

      Clarifying goals

    2. (b)

      Facilitating communication

    3. (c)

      Supporting a power hierarchy

    4. (d)

      Building consensus

  5.  5.

    A comprehensive social work assessment may include:

    1. (a)

      Developmental/life stage issues

    2. (b)

      Psychosocial strengths and coping strategies

    3. (c)

      Patient and/or family/caregivers’ understanding of diagnosis and prognosis

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  6.  6.

    In the seven “Cs” care planning model, which of the following is not ­considered a care goal?

    1. (a)

      CURE the disease

    2. (b)

      SLOW the progression of the disease

    3. (c)

      WITHDRAW all care

    4. (d)

      ALLOW DEATH to proceed, and palliate symptoms exclusively

  7.  7.

    Researchers have found significant differences in how cultural groups view:

    1. (a)

      Illness

    2. (b)

      Grief, death, and dying

    3. (c)

      End-of-life decision making

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  8.  8.

    The palliative care social worker strengthens clarity by promoting terminology used by the team that is specific, descriptive, and consistent. Examples of recommended language include:

    1. (a)

      “Mechanical ventilation” or “breathing machine”

    2. (b)

      “Not helpful” or “harmful” (when describing a proposed treatment or intervention)

    3. (c)

      “Futile”

    4. (d)

      “We are hopeful”

  9.  9.

    Which of the following is not a therapeutic intervention employed by palliative care social workers?

    1. (a)

      Enabling patients and family members to “tell their story”

    2. (b)

      Providing a timeline for grief

    3. (c)

      Presenting options and facilitating decision making

    4. (d)

      Integrating the reality of diagnosis and prognosis

  10. 10.

    Which of the following would not be considered a self-care activity?

    1. (a)

      Develop strategies to distract yourself from disturbing emotions

    2. (b)

      Find an understanding peer or colleague who can listen

    3. (c)

      Acknowledge that palliative care is stressful work that carries an emotional toll

    4. (d)

      Practice healthy behaviors: routine exercise, good nutrition, adequate sleep

Answers

  1.  1.

    (d)

  2.  2.

    (b)

  3.  3.

    (d)

  4.  4.

    (c)

  5.  5.

    (d)

  6.  6.

    (c)

  7.  7.

    (d)

  8.  8.

    (c)

  9.  9.

    (b)

  10. 10.

    (a)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Lucas, J., Mejia, B., Riffenburgh, A. (2013). Social Work in Palliative Care. In: Vadivelu, N., Kaye, A., Berger, J. (eds) Essentials of Palliative Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5164-8_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5164-8_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5163-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5164-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation