Nursing guidelines for administering subcutaneous dexamethasone

Funding body: Internally funded by the Nurse Maude Hospice Palliative Care service and the Institute

Project description: The project is to develop best practice guidelines for the administration of sub-cutaneous dexamethasone in the palliative care setting.  This project has been started because anecdotally there is variation in practice and there is little published evidence. A survey of NZ community hospice palliative care services will be undertaken to get 'expert' opinion to standardise the sub-cut administration of dexamethasone.  The survey will be conducted via email or telephone using a structured questionnaire.  The survey results will be used to develop best practice clinical guidelines for the administration of sub-cut dexamethasone.  These guidelines will be piloted and approved for use within the Nurse Maude generalist and specialist services and also shared with other palliative care services.

Project update: The survey has been completed and final report written. The guidelines have been developed, piloted and implemented into the Nurse Maude District Nursing Service and Hospice Palliative Care Service.

Project outcomes: Walker, J, Lane, P & McKenzie, C. (2010). Evidence-based guidelines: a survey of subcutaneous dexamethasone administration in palliative care.  International Journal of Palliative Nursing,16(10), 494-498.

Report on the ‘Guidelines for the nursing administration of subcutaneous dexamethasone in the palliative setting: a survey of NZ Hospice palliative care services’.

dexamethasone_research_report_final.pdf

Further information: Lead researchers – Pauline Lane and Clare McKenzie, Clinical nurse specialists, Nurse Maude Hospice palliative care service

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