Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40888523›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical nursing2026

Embedding a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant Within a General Medicine Ward: A Prospective Exploratory Study.

Jianxia Zhai, Christine Mooney, Olivia Hamilton, Gillian Vesty, Rebecca Millar, Fiona Runacres, Matthew Dellit, Barbora de Courten

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jianxia ZhaiSchool of Health & Biomedical Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3322-1830
Christine MooneySupportive and Palliative Care Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Olivia HamiltonSchool of Architecture & Urban Design, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Gillian VestySchool of Accounting, Information Systems and Supply Chain, College of Business and Law, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Rebecca MillarSchool of Health & Biomedical Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
Fiona RunacresSupportive and Palliative Care Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
Matthew DellitMedicine, Nursing and Health Science Department, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Barbora de CourtenSchool of Health & Biomedical Science, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.

Funding

by Southern Metropolitan Palliative Care Consortium (SMRPCC), Melbourne, Australia
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo describe patient outcomes for patients at high risk of mortality (with a prognosis of three months or less to live) where a Palliative Care Nurse Consultant (PCNC) was embedded in a General Medicine team. To explore patients and/or their carers feedback and allied health, nursing professionals' perspectives on integrating a palliative care approach in the General Medicine ward.

designProspective exploratory study.

methodsSQUIRE reporting guidelines was adopted for the study reporting. This study was conducted over six weeks in a general medicine ward at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Participants were 20 patients aged > 65 years with non-malignant, chronic conditions at high risk of mortality within three months and had 18 nursing and allied health professionals involved in their care. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and qualitative survey data were analysed thematically.

resultsTwenty patients participated, with an average age of 87 years. 55% spoke a language other than English. PCNC interventions, focused on care coordination and family liaison, were found to facilitate timely referrals to other support services, improve communication and better address end-of-life care needs. Healthcare professionals recognised the benefits of PCNC involvement; however, a key qualitative theme was staff reluctance to raise palliative care needs due to perceived role boundaries and limited confidence. While PCNC presence improved communication and advocacy, barriers included time constraints and patient/family resistance.

conclusionEmbedding a PCNC in a general medicine team appears to enhance care coordination and support timely palliative care integration. Addressing barriers and optimising workflow can improve patient, carer and clinician experience as well as improve resource utilisation. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: The model has the potential to enhance patient-centred care and clinician support in acute general medicine settings. IMPACT: The research will have an impact on acute care settings, particularly general medicine units, by informing models of integrated palliative care for patients with complex needs and enhancing staff capability and confidence in providing timely, person-centred care. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients or members of the public were not involved in the design, conduct, analysis or manuscript preparation of this study. The project was a prospective observational study with limited scope and resources, which did not include a formal patient or public involvement component.

Indexed as

ConsultantsGeneral PracticeHospice and Palliative Care NursingPalliative CareAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleProspective Studiesadvanced care planningcare coordinationgeneral medicineinternal medicinemultidisciplinary team collaborationnon‐malignant conditionspalliative care

Identifiers

PMID40888523
PMCPMC12862553

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.