Objectives: This article describes successful institutionally based programs for providing high-quality palliative care to persons with cancer and their family members. Challenges and opportunities for program development are also described.
Data sources: Published literature from 2000 to present describing concurrent oncology palliative care clinical trials, standards, and guidelines were reviewed.
Conclusion: Clinical trials have shown feasibility and positive outcomes and formed the basis for consensus guidelines that support concurrent oncology palliative care models.
Implications for nursing practice: Oncology nurses should advocate for all patients with advanced cancer and their families to have access to concurrent oncology palliative care from the time of diagnosis with a life-limiting cancer.
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