Susan is a 78 year old widowed lady who was admitted to a medical ward following an episode of coffee brown vomiting and breathlessness. Susan has a past medical history of chronic
The patient has no family history of heart disease or diabetes, however both her parents are on medication for high blood pressure. Her paternal grandmother died of breast cancer at age 47. Her maternal grandmother
The movie “Wit” is a great educational tool for healthcare professionals in terms of dealing with terminally ill patients. It teaches that nurses and medical professionals should always remember that their patients are not a case nor illness nor experiment but rather human beings with souls and pains. Palliative care is one of the most disputed issues of worldwide importance. While bureaucrats in different countries are making laws on the use of palliative drugs, patients with excruciating pains learn how to “take deep breaths and be strong” (Nichols & Brokaw, 2001). That is what nurse Susie Monahan from “Wit” advises her dying patient Vivian Bearing suffering from unbearable pains due to stage IV ovarian cancer after eight painful rounds
PHYSICAL EXAM: Temperature 98.6, Blood pressure 140/90. Pulse 110. Respirations 26. Her lungs are clear, showing mild signs of distress. Heart sounds are normal, irregular rhythm and bradycardia noted. No edema noted in extremities. Patient skin is cool to touch, slightly clammy. EEG shows prolonged QRS wave, with ischemic ST changes and PVCs. Chest radiograph clear.
Briefly describe the patient and his/her situation, diagnosis and prognosis, brief history of the disease, and how/why the patient entered palliative-focused care.
2/10/2016, 1600, Vital Signs: BP 140/85 P132 RR32 Temp 102.2 SpO2 85% on 2 liter by nasal cannula. Jacquline Catanzaro is 45 years old female on disability admitted to Medical Unit Hospital. Sister with patient. Reason to admit is can’t breathe. Diagnosis is 30 year of asthma exacerbation, psychiatric schizophrenia, obesity, pneumonia and herniated disc. Smokes 40 packs year. Drinks 2 pots of coffee a day. Drinks 3 beers each day. Frequency ED visits and hospitalization dependence on rescue inhaler. Patient refuses wear nasal cannula because of worry that it contains poison. Patient has a long history of stopping taking psychiatric medication and asthma medications. Patient has isolated herself from others. Sister is only caregiver. Neuro
HPI: Margaret Elliot is a 52-year-old Caucasian female that is presenting with shortness of breath that has recently worsen. Mrs. Elliot states that her problems began 20 years ago when she had bronchitis, which she consistently has 2-3 times a year. She said that her symptoms have been getting worse the last 2.5 month, but have severely worsen over the past three days. She states that it has been restricting her daily activities and has been troubling her while sleeping lying down. She states that her symptoms improve alittle when she takes her medications. She also states that her symptoms worsen when she tries to walk across the room
"You have stage IV lung cancer that has metastasized to your lymph nodes and bones. Your prognosis is poor; you may have another 18 months left [to live]." The oncologist’s words marked the beginning of my ex-husband’s physical and emotional suffering until his untimely death in January 2017. Witnessing his unrelenting pain and watching him suffer from lung cancer and the horrible side effects of chemotherapy, I wondered why the doctors did not offer him any other alternatives other than living in progressive pain. Why would they let him suffer for the next 18 months with ineffective pain management treatment when his prognosis was so poor? This option should have been available to him, but due to state laws and
Client is limited in her mobility with exertion she suffers from shortness of breath, dizziness and tiredness. At times her breathing becomes a great effort and soon she will be using oxygen continuously. Client is seen by Bellevue Hospital Center located at Frist Avenue & 27th Street, New York, New York tel# 212-562-4141.
When a patient is expected to live six months or less is when hospice is referred. Although many hospice patients have cancer as their primary diagnosis, hospice provides care to patients of all ages who are dealing with any potentially life-limiting illness, including Alzheimer’s, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dementia, and emphysema. Once the patient has been diagnosed and chooses hospice care, this can generally take place at home or as in-patient care. Hospice neither prolongs life nor hastens death, but controls pain and discomfort allowing a person to live as fully and comfortably as possible during life’s final journey (“Career”).
Alyssa, a 56 year old patient at LA Hospice has been admitted in December with a brain tumor, following having stage 3 lung cancer. Alyssa is currently getting radiation treatment along with chemo therapy. Alyssa and her husband John both do not have medical insurance, leaving them with using Medicare. Her functional status is having to use a walker if she has enough strength that day. Alyssa is forgetful from time to time having short-term memory. She has fallen several times in the past and has broken quite a few bones. The last time she had fallen was a week before getting admitted. A nurse or physician is watching her 24/7 every day. The nurse has to write down every symptom and change in her health every day. Alyssa’s overall goal is to be able to go back home and continue her treatment. Alyssa said “I know I can be strong enough to fight this battle, I have to for my husband.” Jenna the IDT talks with her husband about her situation. Jenna asks “Here at LA Hospice we
The start-up of any new business can be challenging on many different levels. For instance, the regulatory guidelines, policies, and procedures, as well as ethical standards, must be implemented at the start of any business to ensure that everyone abides by the same practices and principles. Seeing as Tri-County already has services in place for patients, Pat could use some of the regulatory and ethical guidelines such as the diversity and compliance rules as a blueprint. However, some anticipated concerns that Pat may encounter upfront is first the perception of the community of a new business in town. Pat would need to set a precedence that the new psychotherapy clinic values and respects their patients and the community. Second, Pat would
I'm Heather Denny, the Hypnotherapist. Now that you've found me on Hypnotherapy Directory: “How can I help you?”
As I was about to round off my shift 7am to 3:15pm, on 7/31/2015, I received a call from the admission office that I should prepare for a 75year old end stage cancer patient As I was preparing for the admission the patient was brought in on a stretcher with her family. The patient was admitted for back pain and loss of weight. It was diagnosed that “Miriam” had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given three months to live. She has two siblings who live far apart, one in New York and the other in Georgia. She used to live with her daughter in Georgia until she began complaining of back pain and losing weight. Upon admission to the facility her daughter was convinced that Miriam had less than ninety days to live.
Hypnosis explained by the psychology community as an altered state of consciousness that leaves people in a more subjective state, or more likely to listen to verbal suggestions. The term of hypnosis came from the Greek root word for sleep. There have been records of Hypnosis going back 2,500 years in ancient China and Egypt, (Gurgevich, 2011-2015, para.1). Hypnosis or also known as hypnotherapy is said to be used to help you gain control over undesired behaviors or to help you cope better with anxiety or pain, (“Test and Procedures Hypnosis,”2015, Para. 2). An example of how a hypnotherapy session might go like this; a therapist comes in while a patient was in an relaxed state and proceeds to tell the patient that they will be cured from their illness when they came out of the relaxed state and then the patient may or may not be cured.