A pilot program: Embedding a Palliative Care Link Nurse (PC-Link Nurse) into Residential Aged Care Facilities in regional South Australia

Background and Aims

The RSS aimed to build a link nurse program to address challenges in providing good palliative and EoLC in RACFs across regional South Australia. Specifically, to utilise funds to extend the availability of part-time nurses already working in each RACF clinically, to upskill these Link Nurses with relevant specialist palliative care expertise. 

What We Did

Project funds were used to implement Palliative Care Link Nurses within regional South Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF). Link nurses play a crucial role in facilitating a system that encourages the exchange of information and facilitates formal two-way communication between specialist teams and clinical area nurses. The project model also involved monthly Needs Rounds and educational sessions to build specialist understanding of palliative care for residents nearing their end of life. Through capacity building, the project established local palliative and End of Life Care (EoLC) leadership at each site. A total of 35 Link Nurses were recruited from 38 regional South Australian residential aged care facilities. The project utilised after-death audits to measure outcomes in meeting the palliative care needs of residents. 

Outcomes

Evaluations demonstrated the impact of the project, specifically the empowerment of the individual link nurses, but also the flow on effects to the broader care teams, in terms of onsite access to palliative care expertise and connections to a broader network and specialist resources. In the context of the challenges rural and regional nurses face and the multiple roles and diverse care contexts they work in, link nurses placed high value on the support provided by the program. A tailored approach to education has been achieved by assessing individual learning needs and recognising education in response to this. 

Impact on Aged Care Workforce

This program recognises a growing and engaged group of clinicians in RACF across regional South Australia who are building expert skills and knowledge in palliative care and supporting dissemination of these learnings across their broader networks of staff. At the local level nurses have received dedicated palliative education, mentoring and a community of practice that enables them to continuously improve the end of life care experiences within their facilities. 

Resources Developed

A library of clinical and educational resources has been developed on a Microsoft teams' platform in response to this program. Distribution of resources on this platform have been carefully considered to ensure the audience remains engaged but not overwhelmed with information. To access the resources or for further information please contact: RSSPalliativeCareRACF@sa.gov.au.

Next Steps

The Link Nurse program has proven successful and will now be rolled out to all South Australian publicly funded residential aged care facilities. There are also plans to include privately funded RACFs.