The Textbook of Palliative Nursing is an international resource for nurses in the emerging field of palliative care. Throughout the text, the editors focus on the priniples of palliative care throughout the course of a chronic progressive incurable disease rather than only at the end of life. The scope is broad and the content, contributed by over 80 national and international nurse experts, covers the world of palliative care nursing across many different settings. Included are long term care, home care, hospice, acute care settings, intensive care units and out patient/ office settings. The needs of special populations are addressed, including, pediatrics, the elderly, the cognitively impaired, the poor and under-served, the homeless, and those with AIDS. Assessment, symptom management, spirituality, the meaning of hope at end-of-life, special issues for nurses who provide end-of-life care, issues of truth telling, and ethical issues are all addressed.