NUR6121 Palliative Care Nursing- patient diagnosed with invasive ductal breast

Gladys is a 56-year-old Australian Indigenous patient diagnosed with invasive ductal breast carcinoma with metastases to the brain and bones. She is newly admitted to your palliative care ward with symptoms of pain, anorexia, nausea and dyspnoea. Gladys says she knows she is dying and wants to be allowed to die, but she is concerned about her young grandchildren for whom she has been providing care. Discuss the concept of holistic care and how you will follow these principles to provide care for Gladys and the family across all domains. Remember to discuss the importance of communication and how you will use it in the provision of care. Using the PCC4U communication workbook as a starting point, discuss the role of effective communication by health professionals as they provide care for the patient and family within a collaborative multidisciplinary approach. Areas to focus on include:

1. Holistic care for patient and family across all domains.

2. Communication with the patient, family and within the multidisciplinary team. What communication strategies should be adopted? What factors should be borne in mind when communicating (eg different age groups)? (Review module 2 and the “Michelle” video in PCC4U for information about communication).

3. Communication strategies and techniques that will assist in identifying and meeting where possible the cultural beliefs and practices that are influencing and being influenced by the care that is being provided 

 

Instructions

1. Discussion investigating your beliefs about death, dying, palliative care before undertaking the unit, then reflecting on the experience of undertaking the unit, learning identified (focusing on LO), any new/changed beliefs, areas to be developed, how, etc. As part of your reflection, discuss how you intend to continue to develop your self awareness and maintain self care.

2. Reverting to the case study for Assessment 1, analyse Gladys’s statement about being allowed to die. Reflect on how you would as a nurse would address her statement. What are the legal and ethical considerations associated with her request? Does this constitute euthanasia?