Question

Palliative Care 86 year old client is admitted under care with severe meningitis. Client has a history of CVA, hypertension, osteoarthritis and fatty liver. Acute state of sepsis and meningitis is resolving but the client is not regaining consciousness. Comorbidities are contributing to client's deterioration. Client is unconscious and family has agreed to palliate the client. Answer the following questions in relation to this scenario.

10.1) What are the main health care outcomes expected for this client?

10.2) List 5 (five) nursing strategies that you would deliver to meet the above health care outcomes.

Answer 1

10.1) Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness. It focuses on providing relief from meningitis and to manage the blood pressure and to promote the quality of patients by meeting the activities of daily living such as brushing, bathing, clothing, etc. The goal is to improve the quality of life for both patient and family.

Palliative care is provided by a specially-trained team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with other doctors to give you an extra layer of support.

The palliative care team can help with all this and more. The team will be a sounding board and the first line of defense against any symptoms of discomfort, depression or anxiety of family members. They will handle communication among all of your other doctors. And they will help to match the goals of the treatment options.

10.2) The five most important nursing interventions to promote dignified dying were

(1) maintain dignity and privacy

(2) establish trust,

(3) manage infection

(4) establish rapport, and

(5) Meet the ADL's