Question

Describe a nursing theory from the PICO and question below that might be a foundation to your clinical practice issue.

P - Patient's with a terminal illness (less than 6 months to live) who are fearful of starting hospice care

I - Education (from an RN or MD) on the philosophy, purpose, and inherent benefits of entering on hospice, well in advance of the patient's physical decline.

C - Continue with radical, invasive, life-prolonging (not life-saving), aggressive medical treatments which will require an increased amount of time away from home.

O - Patient's will enter into a hospice program in a timely manner, without regretting or fearing their decision to do so, thus allowing/encouraging patient's to make their own care decisions.

Question: What can the medical professional do to educate the patients and their families who are entering into the last months of life, to reduce the impact of uncertainty, fear, and anxiety, and allow them to make their own end-of-life care decisions?

Answer 1

The role of the healthcare or medical professional plays a vital part to initiate hospice care by the patient and relatives

• Encourage patient and family members to communicate, this can help to clarify their doubts at first
• A family counselling will be helpful
• Do not force the individuals to get into hospice sooner,in some cases slower the decision made, may provide adequate time to adjust and accept it
• Explain in brief about the disease condition and its prognosis ,this gives them a little idea about the abrupt end of life without any peace due to disease advancements
• Inform them that the care encourages patient to participate in spirituality, self realisation to over come hurdles of painful life
• Their psychosocial process can improve
• Treatment will be provided till the end of life
• Make them understand that death is a natural phenomenon when there is a birth.