End of Life/Palliative Care Flashcards
End of Life generally refers to the final phase as
pt’s illness when death is imminent
Institute of Medicine defines End of Life as a period when an individual
copes with declininng health from terminal illness
- frailties with advanced age, even if not imminent
Death is when the patient no longer has
a heartbeat or brain activity
Palliative Care
- treating symptoms for comfort through effective pain and symptom management
- can actively be getting treatment but give them a better quality of life
- decrease economic costs of care
- alleviate burden of caregiver
Pallative Care does/does not hasten or postpone death
does not
Palliative care extends as far as
the bereavement period AFTER the patient’s death
In EOL care, what takes precedence over respiratory?
pain management (not worried about respiratory depression at this stage)
Palliative Care should be started
ASAP
In EOL Care, what is most important quality or quantity?
quality
Palliative Care involves who
physicians, nurses, social workers (paper work), chaplains, and other health care professionals
T/F: Palliative Care extends to the patient and their family.
True
Hospice Care
- can not be getting any curative treatment for admitting dx
- help pt die pain-free and with dignity
- Best Quality of Life
- at least 6 months to death
T/F: Hospice Care can stop or start at any time.
True
If a hospice patient develops a fracture while tripping over a rug, what happens when they enter the ER?
a) The ER tells them to turn around and won’t treat them
b) The patient comes out of hospice care and becomes a regular patient.
c) The patient is never seen by the doctor because of their hospice status.
d) The ambulance drops them off at the nearest bus station for her to walk back and shake it off.
b) The patient comes out of hospice care and becomes a regular patient
Hospice Care’s emphasis on
symptom management
advance care planning
spiritual care
family support
What is the criteria needed for hospice care?
1) pt desires the services and agrees in writing that hospice can only treat the terminal illness
2) pt must be considered eligible for hospice (usually 2 physicians signing off ion terminal and 6 months to live
If a patient is on hospice care, can they receive care for other health problems not related to the admit terminal illness.
Yes
If a patient has cancer and is actively getting chemo and radiation therapy, can they be considered for hospice?
no - active treatment
T/F: Hospice patients are guaranteed death.
False - possible not guaranteed. Patients may live longer and will still be covered as long as they show a decline each benefit period.
Hospice patients need complete control over
pain
Hospice is a ________ not a place
concept - can occur in homes, hospice centers, inpatients, hospice units, acute/long term facilities, rehab
T/F: Patients and their families can NOT revoke hospice care at any time.
False, they can.
- Hospice can also discharge patient at any time if not showing decline or if patient begins to show improvement.
Acute care facilities in hospice provide
for pts whose symptoms cannot be managed in the home environment
Rehab Centers in hospice care
those not seeking treatment for admitting dx (broken hip)
What are the 4 levels of hospice care
Routine - check-in, meds, weight, diet, bath at no charge
Inpatient respite care - caregiver family gets a break
Continuous care - provided for medical crisis
Gen inpatient care - hospitals
What is respite care?
letting the caregiver get a break for about 5 days from taking care of the patient (trip or sleep)
Difference between home health and continuous care from hospice?
Home health - visit counts
Continuous - no visit counts and depends on needs
Hospice nurses are more educated in
pain control
symptom management
spiritual assessments and cultural competence
management of family needs
works with an interprofessional team
If you have a patient who is non-verbal and not arousing, but whose vital signs are changing (B/P and pulse rise), show what?
What will the hospice nurse do?
In pain so give pain medication
Closed awareness
pt does not know if they are dying but the family knows
- conspiracy between the family and health professionals to guard the “secret”, fearing that the patient may not be able to cope with full disclosure about his or her status.
Suspected awareness
pt thinks they have an illness and attempts to find out details, but the family still won’t tell them
-May be triggered by inconsistencies in the family’s and the clinician’s communication and behavior.
Mutual pretense awareness
everyone is aware pt is dying but pretends and doesn’t talk about it
Open awareness
everyone knows and accepts what is going on
- openly acknowledge reality
Legal documents are needed for understanding the patient’s wishes
DNR orders
Advance Directives
- Living will
- Power of attorney
Assisted Suicide/ Euthanasia
Organ and tissue donation
DNR order is
written medical order
- documents the pt’s wishes regarding resuscitation and the patient’s desire to avoid CPR
DNR options
Full CPR
No compression
no intubation and mechanical ventilation
no chemical treatment/drug therapy
medication only
no electrical cardiac conversion
no IV hydration
no enteral nutritional support.
What term is replacing DNR?
Allow Natural Death
When can a DNR be suspended?
operative or invasive procedures during the intraop and immediate post-op period
Code status should be _____________ and ____________ clearly to all involved in the care of the pt
documented and communicated
Advance Directives
written documents that provide information about the patient’s wishes and designated spokesperson
Living wills
an individual can tell the physician exactly what treatment is or is not desired.
Copies of forms can be obtained from the internet and local medical associations but are not required.
Are you able to give a verbal directive from a patient?
Yes, as long as given to the physicians with 2 witnesses
Then documented
Who determines the decisions if the patient is not able to communicate?
A surrogate or medical power of attorney
As the disease progresses, can the patient re-assess their advance directives?
yes
Euthanasia is the
the deliberate act of hastening death
- ANA prohibits nurses from participating bc direct violation of ethics
Physician-assisted suicide is the
making lethal means available to the pt for use at a time when the pt is ready at their own choice
- voluntary active euthanasia - physician carries out a request by IV for a lethal substance
When donating organs and tissues what is needed at the time of donation?
family permission and physican must be notified immediately
For the donation to occur the body needs to be
brain dead (cerebral cortex stops functioning or irreversibly destroyed
including coma, unresponsive, absence of brainstem reflexes, and apnea