Question

1.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, she speaks to you about how difficult it is to speak of the future, knowing she won’t be there to participate. (Learning Objectives 1, 2, and 6)

a.What factors would contribute to your patient experiencing a “good death”?

b.Describe the care that would be deemed “excellent” for your dying patients.

c.How could you best meet the needs of your patient when she wants to discuss how difficult some conversations are with her family?

d.In what ways can a nurse promote personal communication with dying patients?

e.Once your patient has neared the end of her journey, what are some of the physical signs and symptoms that can signal impending death?

Answer 1

1

a- The factors that would contribute to my patient experiencing a “good death” are-

i) There should be someone with her all the time.

ii) Make her feel that everything is alright even if the situation is not going to improve.

iii) Never talk about anything that made her feel sad like talking about the Future

b- The care that would be deemed “excellent” for your dying patients are-

i) We should always communicate with them and their family but in a very sensitive manner so that no one gets hurt.

ii) Always cheer the patient.

iii) Make her feel that everything is alright even if the situation is not going to improve.

c- Whenever she wants to discuss how difficult some conversations are with her family, tell her that she need not be worried because they are the members of a family where a strong personality like you live and also tell her that you are always there to listen to all her worries so she would not have to be shy or embrace to share anything.

d- The ways in which a nurse can promote personal communication with dying patients are-

i) Always Be Available.

ii) Make her comfortable, talk with heart.

iii) Talk about the best moments of her life.