Palliative care is one of the key segments of modern healthcare system, focused on improving the quality of life of patients with serious and incurable diseases, as well as their families. Instead of focusing exclusively on prolonging life, palliative care prioritizes symptom relief, preserving the patient's dignity and providing emotional, social and psychological support.

In line with these principles, intensive palliative care training was held over the past two days for 28 nurses from nine primary health care centers in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton. The training is part of continuous support in development of community nursing and strengthening capacities of healthcare professionals working on daily basis with one of the most vulnerable groups of patients.

The training was provided by Prof. Mirza Oruc from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zenica, through an interactive approach that covered key topics from palliative care — assessment of the patients’ and caregivers’ needs, symptom management, communication in demanding situations, ethical dilemmas and the importance of multi-institutional and multi-professional approach. Special emphasis was placed on the role of community nurses who provide continuous support to patients in their homes.

Through practical exercises, case studies and the exchange of experiences, the participants improved their knowledge and skills in order to provide timely, empathetic and coordinated care, fitted to the needs of the patient and his/her relatives. This kind of training contributes to strengthening health care system in local communities, reducing the burden on hospital capacities and increasing the availability of services in patients’ homes.

The training is another step in continuous efforts to integrate palliative care into primary health care and make it available to all in need. Additional activities to train health professional and develop standardized practice in providing this type of care are planned in the coming period.