Darnell, who is 56 years old, is of African American heritage and has a diagnosis of late-stage colon cancer.

QUESTION

Darnell, who is 56 years old, is of African American heritage and has a diagnosis of late-stage colon cancer. His physician has indicated that there are no additional medical interventions to treat the condition. The physician has contacted the home health agency and requested that a nurse visit the family. Amy, a home health nurse from the AOM Home Health Agency, visits Darnell and his wife, Carlene, to discuss their available support systems and possibly arrange for Darnell to have hospice care services.

  1. For individuals with a terminal diagnosis, what end-of-life nursing interventions can contribute to a meaningful quality of life?
  2. What role do nurses have in hospice care? Compare this with the provision of palliative care nursing interventions in general practice.

ANSWER

End-of-Life Nursing Interventions for Individuals with Terminal Diagnosis: Enhancing Quality of Life

Introduction

This essay explores the role of nursing interventions in supporting individuals with a terminal diagnosis to achieve a meaningful quality of life. The case of Darnell, a 56-year-old African American man diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer, and his wife, Carlene, is examined. The focus is on end-of-life nursing interventions and the role of nurses in hospice care. Additionally, a comparison is drawn between hospice care and the provision of palliative care nursing interventions in general practice.

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 End-of-Life Nursing Interventions

For individuals with a terminal diagnosis, end-of-life nursing interventions play a crucial role in promoting a meaningful quality of life. These interventions include:

 Symptom Management: Nurses assess and manage physical symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, and fatigue. They collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure optimal symptom control and enhance comfort (Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life, n.d.).

Emotional and Psychological Support: Nurses provide compassionate care, actively listen, and create a safe space for patients and their families to express their emotions and fears. They offer counseling, facilitate open communication, and promote psychological well-being.

Spiritual Care: Nurses respect the spiritual and cultural beliefs of patients and their families (Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life, n.d.). They assist in connecting individuals with their spiritual support systems, provide guidance, and foster a sense of peace and meaning during the end-of-life journey.

Advance Care Planning: Nurses facilitate discussions on advance care directives, help individuals make informed decisions about their future healthcare preferences, and support their autonomy in decision-making.

Role of Nurses in Hospice Care

In hospice care, nurses play a pivotal role in providing comprehensive end-of-life care. They:

Conduct Assessments: Nurses perform holistic assessments to identify patients’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. They collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to develop individualized care plans.

Manage Symptoms: Nurses prioritize symptom management, ensuring that patients’ pain and other distressing symptoms are effectively addressed through pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions (Hagan et al., 2018).

 Offer Emotional Support: Nurses provide emotional support to patients and their families, fostering a compassionate and comforting environment (Hagan et al., 2018). They offer guidance, facilitate important conversations, and provide bereavement support.

 Comparison with Palliative Care Nursing Interventions

While hospice care focuses on individuals with a terminal prognosis, palliative care nursing interventions are applicable at any stage of a serious illness. General practice palliative care nursing interventions include:

Pain and Symptom Management: Nurses address physical symptoms to enhance comfort and quality of life.

Communication and Advance Care Planning: Nurses facilitate open and honest conversations about treatment options, prognosis, and end-of-life preferences. They support patients in making informed decisions.

 Psychosocial and Spiritual Support: Nurses provide emotional and spiritual support, address psychosocial concerns, and assist patients and families in coping with the impact of the illness.

Conclusion

End-of-life nursing interventions are essential in promoting a meaningful quality of life for individuals with a terminal diagnosis (Rome, 2011). In the case of Darnell and Carlene, hospice care is considered to provide comprehensive support. Nurses play a vital role in managing symptoms, offering emotional support, providing spiritual care, and facilitating advance care planning. While hospice care focuses specifically on end-of-life needs, palliative care nursing interventions in general practice address the needs of individuals with serious illnesses at any stage. By providing compassionate and holistic care, nurses contribute significantly to enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families during this challenging phase.

References

Hagan, T. L., Xu, J., Lopez, R. P., & Bressler, T. (2018). Nursing’s role in leading palliative care: A call to action. Nurse Education Today, 61, 216–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2017.11.037 

Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life. (n.d.). National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/providing-comfort-end-life

Rome, R. B. (2011, January 1). The Role of Palliative Care at the End of Life. PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241069/ 

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