...palliative care patients?” Regina Nelson Governors State University Abstract Palliative Care Nurses are at risk of experiencing stressful situations related to symptom management and death. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the current stress nurses face caring for Palliative Care patients. Four Nursing Journals and one Psycho-Oncology were reviewed. There was strong evidence to support that nurse’s experience stress caring for Palliative care patients. Common concerns in the first study were caring for a dying patient; personal level, comfort of the patient, and mediating between patient and family. The second study reported physical and emotional health consequences for nurses who provide hospice and palliative care over extended periods of time. The third study of nursesreported job satisfaction, stressors, coping strategies, and support. The fourth study nurses had 10 themes that conceptualize their work that may enable palliative care workers to remain resilient and effectively buffer or moderate stressful effects. The fifth study reported routinization of care, lack of nursing staff’s availability for emotional engagement, frequent interruptions, quiet afternoons, upbeat and positive culture, and a matter of fact attitude surrounding death and dying ,were all the behaviors that “being with” could not create. Although the report showed nurses able to cope by not “being with” the overall impact is stress related to caring for Palliative care patients. Although...
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...Running head: PREPARATION FOR DYING AT HOME 1 PREPARATION FOR DYING AT HOME 1 Preparation for Dying at Home Barbara A. O’Brien Liberty University Abstract Despite the tragedy and grief, dying at home is quite an accomplishment. Dying at home is intense, intimate, stressful and excruciatingly exhausting. Yet, more and more people are choosing to die at home. The preference to die at home requires a significant amount of preparation and education. This paper explores the areas of physical (medical), financial and emotional preparation. Palliative care options such as hospice will be explored. Additionally, this paper will provide an educational awareness plan for...
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...technician can be both complex and stressful. We are not paid enough. For me it’s complex because I have to where many hats. It’s also stressful because not only do we have to deal with sometimes irate pharmacist but also facility employees. I have to even sometimes correct the pharmacist we are trained to assist. Our pay does not reflect the work or effort we put into our jobs. Even though we do more work physically and mentally than the pharmacist our pay does not reflect it. My work is far more important than what we are paid for. I on a daily basis assist customers, enter prescripstions, check inventory of controls, make sure patients get their meds in a timely fashion and deal with sometimes egotistical pharmacist who think we are nothing. I work for a Long Term Care pharmacy. Where our patients are most important. Dealing with families of patients who are end of life is also stressful. Will the comfort meds get there soon enough. Which is also stressful. I have to deal with nurses that think we are magician and can make things happen in a blink of an eye. Some technicians make less than $10 an hour. Which I think is unfair. I have argued this point for the other technicians for years. Some are even certified. Why be certified if a technician is barely making more than minimum wage? I work in the control department. I have been accused of not doing my job or just not care. I care more than I should. I care because my mom was an end of life patient with pancreatic canc are even...
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...of life can be very stressful and overwhelming. Many aspects of caregiving, treatment, and pain management are all part of the journey towards the end of one’s life. Many people are unclear about pain and symptom management during the end of life. Some believe that if you choose to medicate for pain then they are hastening or responsible for the death of their loved one. Others believe that all measures should be taken to help prolong their loved one’s life. No all deaths are the same. Some people pass away peacefully, while others will have difficulty transitioning through the end of life stages and have difficulty with pain. Individual beliefs, religions and cultures are also a large piece of what we must consider in order to plan the appropriate care for the dying patient. Unfortunately, in many instances, patients usually have not had discussions regarding end of life preferences with their doctors, caregivers, and family members. This sometimes leads to decisions being made at the end of life that are not the treatment preferences of the dying person. Hospice is a philosophy that allows nature to take its course, with focus on the greatest quality of life until the end of life. The goal is to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual comfort to the patient as well as provide support to the caregivers. Educating caregivers and families should be done so that they have an idea of what to expect during the dying process and to teach them about the body’s natural...
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...When the Time Comes xxxxxxxxxxxxxx SOC 313: Social Implications of Medical Issues (CGF1432B) xxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx What is the right thing to do when a loved one's life is coming to an end? There is always the wanting to adhere to that individual's request and wishes however there is always the reality that it may not be completely possible due to outside reason or situations. The biggest huddle is will that individual receive the medical care that they need and will the family be will to help or it will cause a tear in the family. Ella who is the individual that will be discussed in this paper, because she is the one that is dying and it is her wishes that everyone especially her husband John, is trying full fill her last wishes. A little background is required for any of this to make sense Ella has been diagnosed with breast cancer and has been treating her condition with natural remedies, and for a long time, despite what the doctors have told her, it seemed to have been working causing her cancer to remission, however that route seems to have ran its course and now the cancer has come back with a vengeance cause Ella to come to the conclusion that she is dying, and she has starting to set up for the end, making her requests to be allowed to go home and pass at home, (Introduction_to_the_Miller_Family). Bringing an individual home that is basically coming home to be more comfortable until they die can and does cause a lot stress on not just the primary...
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...days. Ella was diagnosed with breast cancer and has been in remission for some time. She went to the doctor and she was told that her cancer has returned. Ella was treating herself through a variety of natural means and her husband John who is of the American Indian origin has been using tradition methods to banish the bad spirits. Mrs. Miller would like to die at home than to die in a hospital. In this paper I will be discussing what will be best for Ella. Ella and her husband John are not into “modern medicine” and they would like to use their methods of natural healing to help her to be comfortable in her final days. First I would explain to them the difference between natural healing vs. modern medicine. In an article by author Thomas Sullivan entitled Modern Medicine vs. Alternative Medicine: Different Levels of Evidence; he mentioned that about 40 percent of Americans have tried some form of alternative medicine at some point but studies clearly show alternative medicine simply does not (Sullivan; 2011). Studies have shown that patients who use alternative treatments have a poorer survival time. Modern medicine was or is made to fight off infectious diseases like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Ella and John have three children, Sam, Lila and Joe. Sam is divorced with a son that he does not have a relationship with and he is an alcoholic. Lila is married with a daughter that is in college and she is a diabetic. Joe is also married with three children...
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...The Interpretation of the Unconscious Mind You’re being chased by a monster down the hallway of your childhood home. The hallway goes on forever and it feels like you’ve been running for miles. Every time it seems like the monster is about to catch it’s dinner (you), all of a sudden you get that tiny extra burst of speed to just escape his grasps. With no resolution in sight, you make a break for the nearest door. When you open the door it’s your dead grandmother taking a bath. What!? These are the kind of silly and seemingly unexplainable instances that occur in our unconscious sleep every night when we go to bed. Contrary to what you may think, these ridiculous dreams that almost resemble cartoons more than real life, do actually have a significant impact on our emotional state, and for the most part are based on our own anxieties, desires, and memories. In this essay I’m going to attempt to analyze a current dream I’ve had and interpret the meaning and origin of this dream using the sources available to me. I’m standing on a steep grass hill, looking out over a shallow and narrow valley that appears to have been cut of the landscape like a spoon would do to a tub of ice cream. Inside this crevice is a highway I’ve never seen before, with cars zooming down the road at high speeds. Above the highway is an overpassing bridge with more fast and noisy cars. On the opposite side of this speedway that I’m standing along is my beloved dog, who I’ve raised since he was six weeks...
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...of medical and public literature regarding the reported emotional and psychological effects of participation in physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia on the involved physicians. Materials and Methods: Articles in medical journals, legislative investigations and the public press were obtained and reviewed to determine what has been reported regarding the effects on physicians who have been personally involved in PAS and euthanasia. Results and Discussion: The physician is centrally involved in PAS and euthanasia, and the emotional and psychological effects on the participating physician can be substantial. The shift away from the fundamental values of medicine to heal and promote human wholeness can have significant effects on many participating physicians. Doctors describe being profoundly adversely affected, being shocked by the suddenness of the death, being caught up in the patient’s drive for assisted suicide, having a sense of powerlessness, and feeling isolated. There is evidence of pressure on and intimidation of doctors by some patients to assist in suicide. The effect of countertransference in the doctor-patient relationship may influence physician involvement in PAS and euthanasia. Conclusion: Many doctors who have participated in euthanasia and/or PAS are adversely affected emotionally and psychologically by their experiences. * Emeritus Professor and Emeritus Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University...
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...estimated 1,459,900 home health care patients” (p. 2). With so many individuals choosing home care there needs to be nurses available to care for them. For many patients at home care provides comfort and piece of mind, but what affects does it have on the care providers? This paper is intended to show the stressors of being in patients homes, caring for the patients themselves, and the patients families on the nurses caring for them. Stressors of Home Care Devlin and McIlfatrick (2010) research shows that a majority of end of life patients would prefer to leave this world within their homes. Wanting to live out their final...
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...the local senior center. It was a different story behind the scenes: Starting in my early twenties, I began to suffer mild panic attacks and unpleasant cycles of thought. I worried constantly that I was on the verge of being laid off work, or dying of cancer, or that my spouse was being unfaithful. My fears and panic attacks kept me at home afraid to go out in public and caused me to fight with my friends and family. The fiasco My first major anxiety attack occurred when I was going through a particularly stressful time at work. I started to have a panic attack. I was paralyzed with fear, I couldn’t catch my breath and I thought I was going to die. Although the episode lasted only a few minutes it seemed like an eternity. I was so embarrassed afterwards because I knew that my co-workers now knew something was wrong with me. It was the company nurse who sent me to the hospital emergency room with an imagined heart attack (where doctors unable to find anything sent me home). It was at this point I too thought there was something seriously wrong. I didn’t want to go back to work; I was afraid, I could have another attack and decided to go see if the doctor could help me. The Doctor visit I went to see the doctor I told him about the fiasco at work I told the doctor that my Panic attacks are extremely frightening and that I feel like I am going to die. The doctor explained to me that I was probably having a nervous breakdown and recommended diazepam a mild tranquilliser...
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...where you need to start fighting for your life.” Those words right there are two hits to the heart, feeling nothing but so many different types of emotions, like being on a rollercoaster. Knowing this is where it all starts and not knowing where it will end, just like watching a sad movie then never getting to the end. Everyone wants a good ending to their story… Cancer is honestly such a struggle, however in Collegeatals.org...
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...very notorious issue within the medical and legal systems; which has been in debate for almost two million years. The word ‘euthanasia’ comes from the Greek origin and means “good death, or easy death.” (Pozgar, 2010) When considering a physician acting in the best interest of the patient, the “legal system must ensure that the constitutional rights of the patient are maintained, while protecting society’s interests in preserving life, preventing suicide, and maintaining the integrity of the medical profession.” (Pozgar, 2010)Euthanasia is a highly controversial issue, especially when patients and their families recognize the quality of life being greatly decreased, with no end to the pain and suffering, the real problem occurs for both the patient and family, but for the health care professionals as well. Surely we all remember Dr. Jack Kevorkian, one of the most controversial and most publically followed physicians held liable for his actions in physician-assisted suicide. The medical staff is trained to save lives, preserve life, treat illness, and bandage wounds, so it would be considered very unethical for any medical profession to aid in euthanasia. “The prohibition against killing patients ... stands as the first promise of self-restraint sworn to in the Hippocratic Oath, as medicine's primary taboo: 'I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody if asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect'. (Kass, 2006) There are two types of euthanasia. Active euthanasia...
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...“Philosophy is an attitude toward life and reality that evolves from each nurse’s beliefs” (Marriner-Tomey, 1994, p. 89). I became a nursing graduate in 1993 and I had no idea what I was able to do. The vast responsibilities nurses are accountable for in maintaining the integrity and safety of our patients are impressive. One must, indeed, have the innate desire to care genuinely for the sick and injured to fully understand the philosophy of nursing. Teaching and helping others is satisfying to me knowing I have made a small difference in their lives, even for a short time. This is why I became a nurse. I believe, philosophically that nursing requires dedication, extensive technical and medical knowledge, compassion, empathy, and communication. I am committed to care for patients regardless of their socio-economic status, personal beliefs, cultural differences, or criminal background. People are unique, and their upbringing, beliefs, and personal choices are none of my business; their health and well-being are. The following discusses my philosophy of the nursing process. I teach patients and their families about the disease process, treatment, medications, tests, rehabilitation, and disease prevention. I am their resource person and counsel when I deem appropriate, as in death and dying situations. For families to understand why their loved ones are deteriorating is a comfort, as it gives them closure. I collaborate with other health team members including physicians...
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...In our ever changing health care system, alterations are necessary to keep patient's healthier, safer, and living longer than ever. New policies are essential to making these changes possible, but although they are generally beneficial to the patients, sometimes it may increase stress on the facility that must adhere to these policies. This is the case when it comes to small, privately run senior care facilities. Such a policy impacts these businesses, including the nurses working for the facility, greatly, due to the increasing roles and responsibilities on both parts in caring for those who are chairfast. Overall though, the policy does increase clientele for the facilities, and improve client satisfaction. On October of 2013, the chairfast...
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...Panic Disorders affect people throughout the world in various countries although a major facet of panic disorders, panic attacks, are experienced in differing ways in separate cultures where the certain attack may include wailing, feeling like there is “worms crawling in [the patients] head” and so on(Kohn). With the varying ways that just a portion of a panic disorder is experienced, it is not surprising the amount of differing subsets of panic disorders there are and the range of ways to experience and treat treat these disorders. One such specific subset of a Panic Disorder being “Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia”. Similar to a great amount of other panic disorders, people with Panic Disorder with agoraphobia usually experience panic...
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