Janelle Williamson’s job description is that she provides pain and palliative care services through Lawrence Memorial Hospital—a simple description for a very complicated service. And, complex as the job is, Williamson, says she loves what she does because it’s “a wonderful and rewarding experience.”
Williamson has been a nurse for 13 years, receiving her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Washburn University in 200 7. She has an impressive string of initials after her name (APRN/NP-C) and has worked in private practice as well as with hospitals. But palliative care is her passion.
“Palliative care is not hospice, although many people think it is,” she told members of Lawrence Central Rotary on April 8. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses. The overall goal is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and family, not just help the dying as does hospice.
“Palliative care is a philosophy of medicine for someone with serious illness,” she said. “For each patient, working with his or her medical team, family, friends and sometimes social workers, we ask the patient ‘What do you want out of life? What’s quality of life for you?’ And then we try to help him or her achieve that.
“Sometimes a patient will say ‘I’ve done what I want to do and I’m tired. I’m done.’ We help the families accept that and we help the patient to make decisions without feeling guilty.”
Palliative care workers communicate patient’s wishes to family and other providers within the hospital and the community to ensure that they are heard. They also provide education and support to direct care staff. They discuss spiritual concerns with patient and family and provide bereavement follow-up.
“Our motto,” Williamson said “is to help you live each day as well as possible.”
