End of life care Flashcards
What are the most common causes of death?
Ischaemic heart disease and cancer
What are consequence of an unexpected death?
Proufound sense of shock
No chance to say goodbye or take back hasty words
Accidents compounded by multiple deaths, legal involvement, press coverage
Death of children even more shock
Sudden infant death syndrome may come with parental blame
What is terminal care?
Last phase of care when condition is deteriorating and death is close
What is palliative care?
Management of conditions until terminal phase is reached
What can be used to assess a patient for palliative care?
Support and palliative care indicators tool
How does palliative care start
Anticipatory care planning
What is asked about in the anticipatory care planning?
Where the patient wants to be cared for?
Do they want to be resuscitated if cardiac arrest?
Do they want to be allowed to die naturally?
Who do they want to be informed of their care and change in their condition?
Are they fully aware of prognosis?
Who is the patient’s palliative care plan sent to when the patient is added to the palliative care register?
Out of Hours service
What can be used to evaluate how quickly the situation is changing for someone on palliative care?
Palliative performance scale
What are uses for palliative performance scale?
Communication tool for quickly describing a patient’s current functional level
Criteria for workload assessment or other measurements
Prognostic value
What are common symptoms that distress palliative patients?
Anxiety
Insomnia
Nausea
What are goals of palliative care according to WHO? (Could be a question)
Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death
Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
Offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement.
Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling if indicated
What other members of the MDT are involved in palliative care? (likely question)
Macmillan nurses CLAN Marie curie nurses Religious or cultural groups Other support networks
What would patients consider as a good death? (possible question)
Pain-free death
Open acknowledgement of imminence of death
Death at home surrounded by family and friends
An ‘aware’ death, personal conflicts and unfinished business resolved
Death as personal growth
Death according to personal preference and in a manner that resonates with the persons individuality
Where do most people say is there preferred place of death?
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