NUR 305 WEEK 8
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?
I was able to attend a nursing assessment of a patient currently on the hospice program who is
declining quickly and the two daughters were struggling with accepting their mother’s decline.
J.S. is an 84-year-old female with a hospice diagnosis of End Stage Ovarian Cancer. Her
comorbidities include ascites, pleural effusion, AFib, HTN, CVA, and dysphagia. After receiving
a poor prognosis from the palliative care doctor, the patient and her daughters decided to bring
her home to die comfortably, surrounded by her family, and with a focus on her quality of life.
The nurse case manager spent majority of the 90-minute visit educating the daughters on the
signs and symptom of imminent death as well as the use of comfort medications morphine and
lorazepam. The daughters continue to express denial in accepting the reality that their mother
will pass in the near future and continue to attempt to offer the patient food and drink. The nurse
case manager educated the family on aspiration precautions and the disease progression.
Daughters had a significant amount of questions which were all answered patiently and
thoroughly. The daughter expressed that they understood the rationale of aspiration precautions
which will aid in ensuring their mother’s comfort as well as the use of morphine and lorazepam.
Both daughters reflected that they felt more confident in care for their mother in the home with
the education they received as well as the availability of hospice services.
This study source was downloaded by 100000844708667 from CourseHero.com on 09-10-2022 21:51:51 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/103636799/week-8docx/
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?
I was able to attend a nursing assessment of a patient currently on the hospice program who is
declining quickly and the two daughters were struggling with accepting their mother’s decline.
J.S. is an 84-year-old female with a hospice diagnosis of End Stage Ovarian Cancer. Her
comorbidities include ascites, pleural effusion, AFib, HTN, CVA, and dysphagia. After receiving
a poor prognosis from the palliative care doctor, the patient and her daughters decided to bring
her home to die comfortably, surrounded by her family, and with a focus on her quality of life.
The nurse case manager spent majority of the 90-minute visit educating the daughters on the
signs and symptom of imminent death as well as the use of comfort medications morphine and
lorazepam. The daughters continue to express denial in accepting the reality that their mother
will pass in the near future and continue to attempt to offer the patient food and drink. The nurse
case manager educated the family on aspiration precautions and the disease progression.
Daughters had a significant amount of questions which were all answered patiently and
thoroughly. The daughter expressed that they understood the rationale of aspiration precautions
which will aid in ensuring their mother’s comfort as well as the use of morphine and lorazepam.
Both daughters reflected that they felt more confident in care for their mother in the home with
the education they received as well as the availability of hospice services.
This study source was downloaded by 100000844708667 from CourseHero.com on 09-10-2022 21:51:51 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/103636799/week-8docx/
