In: Nursing
Janet, age 72, is being cared for at home by her daughter. Janet was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 1 year ago. After several months of attempted curative treatment, the cancer has spread to her liver, lungs, and spine.Janet is in severe pain and has requested no further treatment for the cancer but treatment to “keep me comfortable” at home. Janet’s daughter is retired and is able to care for her mother 24 hours a day. She states that she is available “as long as it takes” and just wants her mother to be comfortable. Janet requests a “do not resuscitate” order and comfort measures. Janet is admitted to hospice care. (Learning Objectives2,3,10)
1. What are the four basic human needs that are the focus of hospice care and which are the current needs for Janet?
2. There are specific admission requirements for hospice admissions. What are they and which of those does Janet meet?
3. What are some possible medications that the nurse may expect to see ordered for Janet while she is in the care of hospice?
Do not resuscitate order and comfort measures this orders are given only after considering patient's or patient caregiver opinion. This order indicates that any measures to revive the life the patient like CPR are not to be performed when patient's heart or breathing stops, only comfort measures are to be provided. Generally this orders are provided in case of terminally ill patients.
In case of janet she is having terimnal cancer and she wishes only for pain management and requests for no further treatment for cancer.
Hospice care is a special kind of care that focuses on improving the quality of life for a terminally ill person and their family, in other words it focuses on providing comfort to the patient.
1.The four basic needs that hospice care mainly focuses include physical , social, emotional and spiritual needs. The specific needs of janet is physical comfort, as far as I feel as she has her daughter to take care of her she does not need any emotional support.
2.Admission requirements for hospice care include
-Diagnosis with life threatening conditions with poor prognosis.
-Frequent hospitalization.
-Compromised daily living activities.
-Increased weakness.
-Decreasing mental ability.
-Recurrent infections.
-Terminal illnesses
Like cancers, AIDS, CVA, Dementia, Renal conditions. Neurological disorders.
In case of janet reason for admission into hospice care is her terminal cancer.
3.Some possible medications that nurse can expect to see in janet's orders are pain medications like NSAIDS or Opoids, corticosteroids, antidepressants.