Description of an Australian model for end-of-life care in patients with hematologic malignancies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To present a model for end-of-life care in adult hematology that has been developed from nursing insights. DATA SOURCES Insights obtained from 25 nursing interviews during a two-year, qualitative, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council research study. DATA SYNTHESIS The nursing insights indicate that an understanding of end-of-life care in hematology needs to be set in a trilogy of overlapping models (labeled functional, evolving, and refractory) that address the complexity of issues associated with professional and hospital culture. CONCLUSIONS The authors have used the findings of their national research study to develop a useful, working model to assist with the integration of palliative care into adult hematology. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The model develops a new language for understanding and fostering the integration of palliative care and hematology.