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InthearticleFamilyPreparednessandEndofLifeSupportBeforetheDeathof
aNursingHomeResident,theauthorKathleenDavidsoncreatesathoroughlayout
toward sufficient care for patients nearing the end of their life. She discusses the
importance of proper care for patients during such a delicate time; providing clear
interventions a nurse can provide to ensure continuous following of professional
standards. The article concluded with a heavy regard toward the preparedness level
neededbyallfamilymembersandsignificantotherswithanattachmenttothenursing
homeresidentnearingtheendoftheirlife.StatingthatProfessionalnursesmustplaya
keyroleinenhancingeffortstosupportolderadultsattheendoflife,aswellastheir
families. Since dealing with death is something I personally am concerned of when
decidingtobecomeanurse,IfeelIcanbenefitfromthesekeypointsmadefromthe
article in discussion towards end of life care; staff development, Family Member
RecognitionofDiseaseProgression/DyingTrajectoryandDyingProcess,andSending
SympathyCards.
As a student nurse I understand the importance of building a therapeutic
relationshipwithyourpatients,howeversomethingthattroublesmeisthetopicofdeath.
Ihadchosenthisarticleinhopesofhelpingtopreparemyselffortherealitythatispeople
willcomeandgoandthatitisaprocessoflifethatImustunderstandandlearntodeal
with.InthearticleFamilyPreparednessandendoflifesupportonekeyimplication
wasstaffdevelopment.IfounditreassuringthateducationissomethingIcanlooktogo
towhentryingtobettermypracticesasanurse.Asstatedinthearticle,Thetrainingof
nursinghomestaff,improvethestandardofEOLcareforresidentsandtheirfamily
members.(FamilyPreparednessandEndoflifecare,Par5)Itgoesontotalkaboutthe
differentstaffeducationtopicsthatwillbeabletohelpfurtheronesunderstandingon
howtodeliversuccessfulandconsistentcareforpeoplenearingtheendoftheirlife.
Sometopicsmayinclude;communicationskillsspecifictopreparingfamilymembers
forthedyingtrajectory,death,andbereavement;CulturallysensitiveEOLcaring;andthe
useofopioidandnonopioidmedicationsfornursinghomeresidentswithoutacancer
diagnosis.(FamilyPreparednessandEndofLifecare,Par.5)ThesearethingsIcan
educatemyselfontohelpmakemefeelmorecomfortablewhendealingpatientsnearing
death.Icertainlyagreethatstaffdevelopmentissomethingthatcanaideveryonewhen
providingendoflifecaretopatients.AnarticleIusedfromtheCNOwebsitestatesthe
goalofendoflifecareisto,improvethequalityoflivinganddying,andminimize
unnecessary suffering. It encompasses the physical, spiritual, social, psychosocial,
culturalandemotionaldimensionsofclientcare(GuidingDecisionsofEndoflifecare,
Glossary)Inrelevancetostaffdeveloping,thiscanhelpallnursesachievethisgoalby
educatingthemtowardsgivingsufficientgoalmeetingcare.Thiswillhelppreparenurses
insuchawaythattheywillbecapableofmeetingtheseneeds.Aswell,thiscanbea
focalpointastowhatIshouldtryandworkontohelpmakemyselfmorecomfortable
withprovidingendoflifecare.Iwillbeginbyresearchingthetopicsprovided.
AnotherimplicationprovidedfromthearticleisFamilyMemberRecognitionof
Disease Progression, Dying Trajectory and Dying Process. Along with the
Thelastnursingimplicationissendingsympathycards.Thishelpsmerefrain
fromseeingeachpatientasajobbutmoreasahumanbeingandonamorehumanelevel.
Thisprocessistakenplaceafterthedeathofnursinghomeresident,sendingasympathy
cardsignedbyfrontlinecarestaffthatknewtheresident(FamilyPreparednessandEnd
of Life, Par 13) This implication helps provide condolences to help with the final
supplementingofthetherapeuticrelationshipestablished.Thisalsobenefitsthefamily
aswellasfamilymembershaveindicatedtheyvaluethatstaffmemberstookthetimeto
signthecardandincludecommentsandremembrancesabouttheresident(Davidson,
1999;Hutchinson,1995)
Afterreadingthearticleandresearchingsupplementaryinformation,Iwasableto
gain knowledge on how to provide proper end of life care, as well as feel more
comfortablewhendealingwiththetopicofdeath.IrealizethatitwillbesomethingImay
beuncomfortablewithinthefuturebutIfeelmoreequippedandpreparedtohandleeach
situation.Iamgoingtotaketheseimplicationslearnedfromthisarticleandincorporate
themintomynursingpracticestohelpmakemeabetternurse,Iunderstandthatitisa
growingprocesssoIamgoingtobewillingtoputthetimeandefforttomakesureIcan
givetheendoflifecareIcan.InmyeffortstocompletethisassignmentIhopeothers
readthisarticleaswellbecauseitisveryinsightfulespeciallyifyoutooshareaconcern
whendealingwithdeath.
WorkCited