You are the nurse assigned to care for a patient with end of life plan. Patient John lives at home with his child Sam. John has a history of Alzheimer’s Disease, NIDDM, AF, GORD, CCF, mild depression, and previous hernia and AAA repair and one week ago was diagnosed with advanced CA of the liver and metastases in the pancreas, lungs, and brain. Two weeks ago, John was bought into ED by his daughter with a history of new confusion, fevers, and rash, refusing diet and fluids for the previous two days and was jaundiced in colour. Jo deteriorated with sepsis. He experienced a cardiac arrest in ED. Following resuscitation, John was transferred to intensive care. He underwent further investigations and was diagnosed with advanced CA of the liver with metastases in the pancreas, lungs, and brain. John’s family then requested no further active treatment and asked that he be discharged home with support from the community nurses. You approach the family and they ask you the following questions. Explain how you would respond to each question. What happens now to my dad? Will he be in a lot of pain? What will I tell my dad if he asks what is going on? What do I say?
You are the nurse assigned to care for a patient with end of life plan.
Patient John lives at home with his child Sam. John has a history of Alzheimer’s Disease, NIDDM, AF, GORD, CCF, mild depression, and previous hernia and AAA repair and one week ago was diagnosed with advanced CA of the liver and metastases in the pancreas, lungs, and brain.
Two weeks ago, John was bought into ED by his daughter with a history of new confusion, fevers, and rash, refusing diet and fluids for the previous two days and was jaundiced in colour. Jo deteriorated with sepsis. He experienced a cardiac arrest in ED.
Following resuscitation, John was transferred to intensive care. He underwent further investigations and was diagnosed with advanced CA of the liver with metastases in the pancreas, lungs, and brain.
John’s family then requested no further active treatment and asked that he be discharged home with support from the community nurses.
You approach the family and they ask you the following questions. Explain how you would respond to each question.
- What happens now to my dad?
- Will he be in a lot of pain?
- What will I tell my dad if he asks what is going on? What do I say?
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