Patient care should consider their needs and incorporate their families in the process. However, they must always ensure that patients’ interests are respected. For the discussion, the focus is on Ms. Smith. The patient is 85 years old and has a terminal illness. Even though the patient refuses to eat, the family prefers that she eat and get assistance. It is up to the professional to ensure that the patient’s welfare is respected.
The nurse and the team can use interdisciplinary care by including professionals from various specialties in the care team. For instance, including the family and listening to them to know how they can improve care is essential. Families usually understand patients and their beliefs and may help in decision-making. It is essential to include nurses (Coleman, 2019). Nurses should offer patients the care they need for comfort. They will also advocate for them. For instance, they may communicate with the families to explain what the patient wants and their rights to take or refuse treatment. The team should also include the chaplain. It is also important to consult specialists who would treat the patient, such as heart specialists and psychiatric specialists, to help with the depression and other issues that may be affecting the patient’s comfort.
One additional assessment that may be needed for the patient is a spiritual assessment. Clearly, from the text, the patient was struggling with her fate. She knew that her situation was terminal and that she would die. She also needed her family to accept what would come next and allow her to go. However, she was afraid. Therefore, she admitted to having problems sleeping because she feared she would die. The conflict within her about her impending death was stressful to her and was contributing to the depression that she admitted to having. Another area that she would need spiritual guidance is her relationship with her children. She regretted how she had raised her family. She wished she would have been better. She blamed herself for how her children were reluctant to accept her fate. Performing a spiritual needs assessment may help the team know how to best facilitate her care (Coleman, 2019). it would help determine the best way to talk to her and inform her of the need for a chaplain. The chaplain may help reconcile her with her faith.
Several interventions should be considered. First, as already discussed, she will need a spiritual intervention. The chaplaincy should help her understand the spiritual implications of her terminal condition. The intervention may also help harmonize the family and help them accept the fate of the senior patient (Wisesrith et al., 2021). a psychological evaluation may also be needed. Evaluating the patient’s mental health may help the hospice know how to comfort her and reduce their depression.
In conclusion, professionals must consider cultural factors when dealing with senior patients in their end-of-life journeys. They must also protect their autonomy. In Ms. Smith’s case, it was essential to use a multidisciplinary team and ensure that a spiritual needs assessment is performed. The spiritual needs assessment will help the patient accept their fate and help communicate with the family.
References
Coleman, D. E. (2019). Evidence-based nursing practice: The challenges of health care and cultural diversity. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 19(4), 330–338. https://doi.org/10.1080/15323269.2019.1661734 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15323..Wisesrith, W., Sukcharoen, P., & Sripinkaew, K. (2021). Spiritual care needs of terminally ill cancer patients. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: APJCP, 22(12), 3773. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.12.3773
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