HOLISTIC/TREATMENTS
XavierDz
reply2.docxEnd-of-life care is an essential part of the death and dying process. Many are diagnosed with a terminal illness and want to spend the time the have at home and comfortable. As a former hospice nurse, it is a privilege to be apart of this with them and help with all the questions, concerns, emotions and the process of it. End-of-life care is how the patient and family want to make it and it involves many alternative options. Early involvement with hospice has been proven to improve the quality of life and making the transitions easier. (Aldridge, M.D. et al, 2015)
One challenge that is associated with nurse's role in alternative therapies with end-of-life care is knowing when to introduce the treatment and not placing their own influences in it. Families and patients guide the hospice experience. The nurse is there to introduce and explain the transitions and ways to provide comfort and care. It is difficult for nurses, like myself, to not express our own input and opinions about 'what is best' for the patient. Many families look towards to nurse to help and it is important to remember to just guide them. Many myths and stories are told with Roxanol and Ativan in the way they react and ease pain, anxiety, shortness of breath and more. Families have preconceived ideas before the treatment is even started, and they wait longer periods to start comfort treatments.
The use of contemporary and alternative medicine could be used in end-of-life care in many different ways and are beneficial for those not seeking just medications. Some patients and families have belief in herbal remedies and alternative means such as tea and sage to help, while others may use forms of pain relief in acupuncture, massage, soaks and others. The ethical issues that nurses may face would be that it goes against their beliefs. As a hospice nurse, I met many different kinds of people and saw multiple beliefs and remedies. Some things I did not believe in, but it was what my patient believed in and as the nurse, I participated and used the remedies they wanted and give the patient autonomy.
The main elements that I would use in my teaching plan for nurses would be the types of alternative therapies with evidence based results, understanding the death and dying process and recognizing where the patient is and teaching the family what to expect. Other elements would be to understand that there is not a set list or way to go through the process and the therapies. A nurse must recognize what is effective for their patient and try alternate means if it does not benefit the patient. The nurse and the patient share the role of understanding the types of treatments, the patient;s beliefs and values and their understanding of death and dying. End-of-life care is about the comfort for the patient and ensuring the quality of life with dignity.
References
Aldridge, M. D., Hasselaar, J., Garralda, E., van der Eerden, M., Stevenson, D., McKendrick, K., Centeno, C., & Meier, D. E. (2016). Education, implementation, and policy barriers to greater integration of palliative care: A literature reviewLinks to an external site. . Palliative Medicine, 30(3), 224–239
Moir, C., Roberts, R., Martz, K., Perry, J., & Tivis, L. J. (2015). Communicating with patients and their families about palliative and end-of-life care: Comfort and educational needs of nursesLinks to an external site. . International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 21(3), 109–112. http://doi.org/10.129768/ijpn.2015.21.3.109
