Question

Option #1 - Case Study to Consider

Ann and Michael have been married for 55 years. Ann is 80 years-old, and suffers from lung cancer and advanced Alzheimer's disease. She currently resides in a nursing home, and often does not recognize Michael when he visits. Last night she was admitted to the hospital with difficulty breathing. Today, you are the nurse caring for Ann, and her physician is suggesting surgery to remove part of her lung to potentially slow the progression of her cancer. Michael is feeling unsure about this course of treatment, and asks for your advice and guidance.

How would you respond to Michael and serve as advocate for your patient?

Option #2 - Share a Related Experience

Share with your classmates a time when you cared for a patient at the end of their life. This may be a time when you assisted the patient (or their support system) with decisions related to end of life care; or a time when you were present for the death of a patient.

What were your observations related to this experience? Do you believe it was a peaceful death? What went well? Can you think of anything that could have made the experience better for the patient and/or family?

Answer 1

1. As a nurse , my duty is to guide and provide information to the patient. I would ask Michael to have a explained talk with the treating physician about the surgery and it's outcome , what all would be it's complications etc after providing him information from my side regarding the same if he don't gets convinced .

2. I had an experience of my ICU posting . It was in my evening shift one female patient from the emergency for shortness of breath . She was an asthmatic patient not on regular medicines. She was having difficulty since two days but they thought it would resolve itself . They came to the hospital when her condition got severe till respiratory acidosis . And the moment we were trying to put the cannula she collapsed . CPR was done but she couldn't be revived. It wasn't a peaceful death ,she was very much worried of her childrens . She had two children school going adolescents whom she told to go outside during the treatment . If they had brought her before the condition had reached severe ,there might been chances for her survival .