Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Purpose & Scope

  • Purpose: The purpose of this BPG is to provide evidence-based recommendations to nurses and the interprofessional health team who support adults (18 years and older) experiencing the last 12 months of a progressive life-limiting illness, their families and their caregivers. The goals of the recommendations are to: (a) improve delivery of psychosocial, spiritual and culturally safe care; (b) enhance coordination of care; and (c) facilitate supportive work environments.

    Scope: This BPG is applicable to all practice settings where persons and families require palliative care and end-of-life care (e.g., acute care, community care, and long-term care). Specifically, this BPG will focus on persons experiencing the last 12 months of progressive life-limiting illness and their families. It will address the following areas:

  • the domains of psychosocial, spiritual and culturally safe care;
  • interprofessional care planning and delivery; and
  • strategies to support health providers who provide palliative care and end-of-life care.
  • The following conditions and topics are not covered within the scope of this BPG:

  • Advance care planning, grief and bereavement support, palliative care competency requirements, pharmacological interventions and symptom management
  • Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
  • Palliative care and end-of-life care for the pediatric population
  • Funding of palliative care and end-of-life care services
  • NOTE: Nurses and the interprofessional health team are required to have basic skills, training and competencies in palliative care in order to implement the recommendations of this BPG.

    The recommendations within this BPG are meant to be implemented as part of a holistic approach to care, as outlined in Figure 2: Domains of Issues Associated with Illness and Bereavement.

Clinical Management
A Palliative Approach To Care In The Last 12 Months of Life
Background Information