Question

Loss, Grief, and Dying 3. You are an inpatient hospice nurse caring for your patient, a 42-year-old woman with metastasized breast cancer whose prognosis is terminal. Hospice physicians indicate she has approximately 1 month to live; she is spending her time with her husband and three children, who demonstrate affection. Her family is attentive, supportive, and significantly involved in her care. They spend their time playing games (with the patient watching if she doesn't have the energy to compete), wheeling her around the flower gardens, and talking of future plans for the family after her death. In the evening, after her family has gone home, SO she speaks to you about how difficult it is to speak of the future, knowing she won't be there to participate. a. How could you best meet the needs of your patient when she wants to discuss how difficult some conversations are with her family? b. In what ways can a nurse promote personal communication with dying patients c. Describe an appropriate reaction of a nurse to the death of a patient for which the nurse has provided care for a significant amount of time Focu

Answer 1

a.Some of the ways to meet the needs of the patient are

• Provide a comfort zone for the patient to talk about her feelings and needs in a calm environment, this can lead to self realization and find ways to handle emotions
• Ensure a trustworthy, therapeutic relationship is executed with the patient to lie on a nurse a good supporter during need
• Do not super impose, argue with the patient, rather silence can be a great therapeutic tool to handle these types of patients
• Prioritize the needs

b.Some of the ways to promote personal communication are

• Listen to the patient carefully and with concerns to support the patient in all aspects
• Provide optimal and best possible solutions to the patient to make her decision
• Provide her diversional therapy in case of feeling depressed and engaging in activities which can give her peace of mind.

c.The appropriate reaction of a nurse who has cared for a patient who is facing death is an empathy rather than sympathy both for the patient and the family members