Introduction
End of life (EOL) nursing care varies across cultures, settings, and individual preferences. This Quest explores some EOL care options that may be available for you, your family, or your patients.
Task
Review the End of Life care options provided here, making note of key differences.
1. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
2. Advance Directives
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3241064/
3. AACN
https://www.aacn.org/clinical-resources/palliative-end-of-life
4. Some History
https://milnepublishing.geneseo.edu/nursingcare/chapter/a-historical-overview-of-end-of-life-care/
Process
Consider the ways end of life care options might vary for:
a 70-year old with advanced small cell lung cancer
a 24-year-old with a diffuse hypoxic brain injury dependent on mechanical ventilation, paralytics, sedation, and vasopressors, whose EEG demonstrates status epilepticus
an 87-year old with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer whose medical status has been DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) for the last 10 years
a 56-year old with Multiple Sclerosis who has been unable to eat for 3 months, refuses a feeding tube, and demonstrates evidence of pneumonia
a 78-year old with advanced dementia, renal failure, recurrent pneumonia, and several prior strokes
a 60-year old paraplegic with chronic osteomyelitis and recurrent sepsis
Evaluation
What additional information do you require to provide end of life care today?
Conclusion
Grief - Before, After, and During
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnCLqArKYi8
Grief After Death
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCNFVbJkxoQ
Understanding Grief
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIwQn4nmzYY