Needs And Concerns Of A Dying Patient †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Needs And Concerns Of A Dying Patient. Answer: Key needs and concerns Tom is probably experiencing discomfort from the difficulty in breathing and he may need help to enable him to breathe easily. Patients with multiple metastases experience pain in different areas of the body where cancer has spread. Therefore, Tom may need some pain medication to help him cope with the pain and any resulting discomfort. Tom also needs to feel the love and care from his wife and his son so that he does not get anxious and worried. Physical contact such as holding hands and touch can make the patient feel the care and love of those close to them and this can be very soothing (Adams, Anderson, Bailey, 2014). Tom may have some spiritual concerns that he would like to address before his death. Spiritual issues that most people are usually concerned about include resolving issues with their family and friends and being prayed for by a spiritual leader from their religious group, this is important as it makes the dying feel at peace. The family also has some needs and concerns that need to be dealt with. The family needs to know the time they have left to be with the patient so that they can be psychologically prepared and ensure that they are well prepared to fulfill any wishes the patient has before and after death. The family will also be concerned about the care the patient will receive. it is important to keep communicating with the family members on the kind of care that will be offered the patient to minimize their anxiety. During this time, it is important for healthcare providers to grant the patient and their family some privacy (Westin, Prahl Hammarlund, 2014). Cultural considerations It is important to consider the patients culture at the end of their life as this will determine the care plan that will be used. Tom may want to return to the country to die because of certain beliefs that he may have about dying at his home. Some of the beliefs could be on some rituals that he may want to perform and he might prefer having them in his home country before passing on. One of the cultural considerations involves decision-making. It is important to consider whether the patients culture allows for collective decision-making or it values the individuals decision (Arbour Wiegand, 2014). In a collective culture, a healthcare provider will have to understand and respect the collective decisions of the patients family more than their individual decisions (Teno, Miller, Morden, Mor, 2013). It is important to consider the patients cultural perception of pain since this will determine whether pain relief methods can be used. Some cultures view pain positively and consider it as a sign of recovery while some see it as punishment or a test of faith (You, Downar, Ma, Jayaraman, Neary, 2015). Those who view it as a punishment may not ask for pain relief medication as it may be considered a sign of weakness. Another important cultural aspect to consider is the patients faith and religion since it greatly influences the perception of the death process. Some cultures believe that the patients faith can make them better and it is important that the healthcare provider considers this when discussing with the family about end of life issues as a way of respecting their beliefs (Heyland Barwich, 2013). Some patients may also want some religious rituals to be performed before they die. The hospital should work together with the family to ensure they fulfill the patients wishes so t hat they die peacefully. Some families may want to try traditional healing methods as a last resort to try and improve the patients condition (Virdun, Luckett, Davidson, Phillips, 2015). It is also important to put into consideration the patients cultural beliefs about handling a dead person and their personal wishes. Some may want to be cremated; others may require some rituals immediately after death as a way of sending them to the afterlife. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the patient's cultural beliefs before any decisions are made (Cook Rocker, 2014) Incorporation of strategies in future practice In my future practice, I would ensure the comfort of the dying patient. Comfort is important as it reliefs the patient pain giving them the opportunity to pass on in peace. This can be done by providing pain relief medications if the patient or the family consent to its use. I would involve the family in ensuring the comfort of the family by encouraging them to be around the patient so that the patient feels their love and care. It is also important to keep communicating with the family on the patients condition so that they can be aware of the time they have left to be with their family member. Open communication will also reduce the familys anxiety since it will prevent any uncertainties (Arbour Wiegand, 2014).Through communication with the family members and the patient, the patients final wishes, and needs will be known and the care provider can plan on how they will be achieved. However, what is more, important is for me as a healthcare provider to consider and respect all the wishes and desires before and after death. Culture plays a significant role in the life of an individual (Arbour Wiegand, 2014). In this case, as a health care provider, it is also important to respect the patients culture and on how the families wish to handle the patients condition. It is important to give the family a chance to make the final decisions based on their cultural beliefs and values. The family needs to be allowed to carry out any necessary rituals and prayers at the hospital to ensure the peaceful send off of the patient. It is also essential that the healthcare provider determine who the decision maker will be, either the patient or the family members. This will ensure that the patient is handled according to the culture of the patient and the family members. References Adams, J. A., Anderson, R. A., Bailey, D. E. (2014).Nursing strategies to support family members of ICU patients at high risk of dying.Heart Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care,43(5), 406-415. Arbour, R. B., Wiegand, D. L. (2014). Self-describednursing roles experienced during care of dying patients and their families: a phenomenological study.Intensive and Critical Care Nursing,30(4), 211-218. Cook, D., Rocker, G. (2014). Dying with dignity in the intensive care unit.New England Journal of Medicine,370(26), 2506-2514. Ek, K., Westin, L., Prahl, C., Hammarlund, K. (2014). Death and caring for dying patients: exploring first-yearnursing students' descriptive experiences.International journal of palliative nursing,20(10), 509-515. Heyland, D. K., Barwich, D., P. (2013). Failure to engage hospitalized elderly patients and their families in advance care planning.JAMA internal medicine,173(9), 778-787. Teno, J. M., Miller, S. C., Morden, N. E., Mor, V. (2013). Change in end-of-life care for Medicare beneficiaries: site of death, place of care, and health care transitions in 2000, 2005, and 2009.Jama,309(5), 470-477. Virdun, C., Luckett, T., Davidson, P. M., Phillips, J. (2015). Dying in the hospital setting: A systematic review of quantitative studies identifying the elements of end-of-life care that patients and their families rank as being most important.Palliative medicine,29(9), 774-796. You, J. J., Downar, J., Ma, I. W., Jayaraman, D., Neary, J. (2015). Barriers to goals of care discussions with seriously ill hospitalized patients and their families: a multicenter survey of clinicians.JAMA internal medicine,175(4), 549-556.