Advance Care Planning And Preparation: A Case Study

Depending on a person’s physical and mental state, will depend on whether they are able to complete their end of life care planning. If an individual is unable to plan their end of life care then key people like next of kin, friends or social worker will plan their end of life care, using background information about the individual, trying at best to keep to their religious beliefs and wishes.

It’s very important to respect client wishes to die with dignity and implement those wishes. However; in some cases, nurses often encounter ethical dilemmas where the patient’s wishes may conflict with those of his or her family. Patients have autonomy of their health. For instance, if client decided to not have any g-tube or be intubated in times of terminal illness, their wish should be implemented once patient is not cognitive impaired. Some people chose to die with dignity because they don’t want to go through pain or becomes a burden for the family. That’s why it’s essential to educate and encourage patients’ about advance directives.

What would it be like to have a life-threatening disease, and not know if you’re going to make it? Then, you found out that you could have your biggest wish come true, because of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. That’s exactly what happens to thousands of kids each year.

“It is important for all staff to know what it is that the person has asked for” when dealing with patients under end-of-life care (Sander, 2014, p.96). Sander (2014) suggests that staff must first consider the wishes of the person who is dying over the family wishes. Once the patient’s wishes are considered first, then the staff can focus on the family who will be affected by the treatment and care of their loved one (Sander, 2014). After first looking to the patient’s wishes and then family wishes, the staff must consider staff and other residents’ experiences (Sander, 2014). Considering all those factors in that order promotes what Sander (2014) calls a good death. The administrator should have spoken to both Ann and John. Both are trusted persons of interest that Mrs. Smith established during her competent days. Both health proxy and durable power of attorney are important decisions makers. The health proxy makes healthcare decisions for incompetent patients (Pereira, 2013). Durable power of attorney assists communications between medical team and family members (Pereira, 2013). This assures there is respect for the patient’s values and expressed wishes (Pereira, 2013). The administrator did not value the patient’s wish. The administrator did not utilize Mrs. Smith’s trusted

Other barriers in implementation might include the legality of certain medical interventions, associated costs and limited resources for providing the best care possible (Mason, 2013, p.12). As nurses, a barrier in implementing advance directives might also arise when advocated end-of-life wishes are undervalued or poorly recognized by others who do not share the same comfort or high priority in the medical workplace. Finally, the patient, families, and healthcare professionals face barriers in misconceptions regarding advance directives, especially in regards to

You definitely have an interesting topic and post Genna. Involving patients and their family members in advance care planning (ACP) is an important aspect of healthcare system. It ensures aggressive symptom management, and offers patient and family centered communication and care coordination. National guidelines recommend ACP with discussions about palliative care and hospice for patients who have a life expectancy of less than 1 year. ACP allows patients to: have clear expectations of their treatment course and physical condition, specify a health care proxy with whom they have discussed their own wishes, document their own treatment preferences and discuss death and dying comfortably with their physician.

With an increasing aging population and growing numbers of individuals with chronic conditions, it is important for individuals to prepare for end-of-life care. An Advance Directive is a defined as a “legal document that provides data to critical care staff about patients’ wishes, especially when critical illness decreases decision-making ability” (McAdam, Stotts, Padilla, and Puntillo, 2005). An Advance Directive also allows for better communication between the patient and doctor, and preserves the autonomy of patients. It may also alleviate one’s family from any possible burden of uncertainty of one’s wishes. It provides guidance, which may avert arguments with family members concerning treatment choices (Cedars Sinai, 2015). The Patient

Whenever the topic of death arises, at least in American culture, it is treated with special care and caution. We unofficially and yet unanimously treat death as a taboo. Not many people enjoy talking about death or the potential of their deaths. People tend only to discuss death when buying life insurance or creating a will. Other than this, details about the aftermath of their death are never discussed until they are on their deathbed. This practice leaves few seconds for loved ones to collect thoughts and explain their last

Langston Hughes was an author and poet born on February 1, 1902. Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri and grew up with his mother and grandmother. Langston’s biological mother and father separated shortly after he was born. When he finished elementary school Hughes and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where he graduated in 1920. While he was in high school, he was known as an active kid. He received “an athletic letter in track and held offices in the student council and [as well as the] American Civic Association.” (Hugo, Victor. “Langston Hughes Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2008, www.notablebiographies.com/Ho-Jo/Hughes-Langston.html.) While in high school his passion for poetry started to grow. He was inspired by the poet

Several ethical issues arise when planning, and implementing, advance directives, many of which can be grouped into three general categories: the perspective of the physician, that of the family, and the economic costs associated with advance directives. Physicians are intimately involved in the end-of-care process, and may disapprove with the proxy's end-of -life decisions. A physician may not agree with a proxy's decision to withdraw feeding tubes or medications that may aid in their patient's recovery. On the other hand, a physician's refusal to carry out a patient's wishes may lead to increased pain, suffering, and additional financial hardship. Most hospitals have ethical committees, which help patients, families, and healthcare providers

Key people could be family, doctors, carers, religious leaders etc. Each may own distinctive role to play in order for the choices and preferences of the individual to be respected and carried out. [ Every person’s end-of-life trajectory is different and needs differ in intensity and quality over time. End-of-life care must adapt to the varying and changing needs of the individual over time and that it cannot be limited to certain settings or services. The provision of good

Ineffective breathing pattern related to decreased oxygen saturation, poor tissue perfusion, obesity, decreased air entry to bases of both lungs, gout and arthritic pain, decreased cardiac output, disease process of COPD, and stress as evidenced by shortness of breath, BMI > 30 abnormal breathing patterns (rapid, shallow breathing), abnormal skin colour (slightly purplish), excessive diaphoresis, nasal flaring and use of accessory muscles, statement of joint pain, oxygen saturations of 85-95% 2L NP, immobility 95% of the day, and adventitious sounds throughout lungs (crackles) secondary to CHF, hypertension, pain caused by gout and arthritis, and obesity

The patients who I have had that were being cared for by hospice survived longer than expected. When a client, family member, or I believe a patient would benefit from hospice care, I discuss it with the nephrologist. The nephrologists I have worked with defer that decision to the primary care physician. My role is in having a conversation with the client and family, and supporting

Advanced care planning and end of life discussion is a topic that will come up at some point in everyone’s lifetime. This discussion may not involve you directly, but most likely will need to be discussed with a loved one or good friend. As a hospice nurse, this is a topic that is very important to me; it is also something they don’t teach you about in nursing school. Advanced care planning contains information regarding specifics on end of life wishes such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), artificial nutrition, and comfort care. It contains a legal document that only goes into effect if and or when a person becomes incapacitated (National Institute on Aging, 2016). Most people consider end of life planning “something you do when you

Our society finds it difficult to talk about dying and euphemisms are the norm. It is typical for both doctors and patients to be hesitant to initiate a discussion on dying. Focus instead is often more often placed on interventions and actions for managing symptoms. This avoidance can leave patients and their families unprepared for the inevitable death. (Schapira, 2010) It also often results in requests for therapies which may be excessive, costly and even painful in the hopes for a cure. One study demonstrates that when patients are aware that they are terminally ill, the majority are able to reach a state of peacefulness and also exhibit lower levels of distress. (Ray, Block, Friedlander, Zhang, Maciejewski & Prigerson, 2006) It is also important that family members are willing to discuss end-of-life options with their loved ones. According to elderly patients, they are most often the ones who initiate these conversations with their