"Patient preferences matter”: how practice nurses can support advance care planning

NWMPHN and Northern Health have partnered to offer practice nurses the opportunity to learn more about the importance of advance care planning and how to incorporate these principles into clinical practice.

Advance care planning (ACP) allows people to prepare for a future situation in which they may no longer be able to make their own medical or health care decisions. Practice nurses have the opportunity to begin discussions about this difficult topic and align the goals and preferences of the people they know best. Proactive communication and normalising these conversations are essential. Although some people will not engage, others will want to know more and even write information down in an advance care directive. This workshop aims to build confidence, capacity and capability, and aligns with the message of National Advance Care Planning Week: “Make your choices matter”. There will be opportunities for questions and case discussion about your experiences within the session.

Speakers:

Ella Critchley is the program manager of Northern Health ACP. She has over 20 years of experience in the health care industry. Ella is an experienced nurse leader with a strong sense of integrity who effectively and enthusiastically supports clinicians in understanding ACP. Ella She a Master of Healthy Ageing and builds strong, positive and meaningful relationships. 

Dr Hao Zhuo is a geriatrician and palliative medicine physician working across Melbourne through Northern Health and Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care. Hao has joined the Northern Health ACP program to encourage discussion and understanding to promote person-centred care through shared decision-making.

Learning outcomes:

1. Describe the purpose and process of Advance Care Planning to one of your practice patients
2. Identify the correct Medical Treatment Decision Maker for each of your patients
3. Describe the principles of shared decision-making and informed consent, and how this applies when treating patients