the dying person chapter 41. introduction †some deaths are sudden, others expected †accepting...
TRANSCRIPT
THE DYING THE DYING PERSONPERSON
CHAPTER 41CHAPTER 41
INTRODUCTIOINTRODUCTIONN† Some deaths are sudden, others expected
† Accepting one’s own mortality is a developmental stage of life
† Your feelings about death affect the care you give
† Must understand the dying process to meet dying person’s physical, psychological, social, & spiritual needs
TERMINAL TERMINAL ILLNESSILLNESS
† Illness or injury for which no reasonable expectation of recovery exists
† Doctors can’t predict time of death
† Hope and the will to live strongly influence living and dying
ATTITUDES ABOUT ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATHDEATH
† Experiences, culture, religion, and age influence attitudes
† Attitudes change as age & circumstances change
† Dying people often need hospital, nursing center, hospice, or home care
† Family often involved in process
ATTITUDES ABOUT ATTITUDES ABOUT DEATHDEATH
† When death occurs funeral director called to take body
† Many adults & children have never had contact with dying person or at time of death
† Practices & attitudes differ among cultures
† Attitudes influenced greatly by religion
RELIGION’S AFFECT ON RELIGION’S AFFECT ON DYINGDYING† Beliefs about life after death influence
attitude toward death (ex: reincarnation is belief that spirit or soul is reborn into another human body or into another form of life)
† Rites & rituals during dying process or at death influenced by religion
† Religion offers comfort to some people as they or loved one are dying
AGE’S AFFECT ON DYINGAGE’S AFFECT ON DYING† Adults:
† Fear pain & suffering, dying alone, invasion of privacy, loneliness, and separation from loved ones
† Worry about loved ones left behind
† Resent death ability to keep from dreams
† Age 3-5 think death is temporary† Blame themselves
† See death as punishment for being bad
AGE’S AFFECT ON DYINGAGE’S AFFECT ON DYING† Age 5-7
† Know death is final† Think death only happens to others† Relate death to punishment & body
mutilation (ideas from TV, cartoons, video games, movies, fairy tales)
† Older persons† Fewer fears than younger persons, but may
fear dying alone† Know it will come, may welcome it (free of
pain & suffering) or think of as reunion with loved one
STAGES OF DEATH & DYING STAGES OF DEATH & DYING DESCRIBED BY ELISABETH DESCRIBED BY ELISABETH
KUBLER-ROSSKUBLER-ROSS Denial: “No, not me!” Anger: “Why me?” May be
outraged & jealous of healthy Bargaining: make promises to bargain for more
time – may be on spiritual level Depression: mourn things lost & that will be lost Acceptance: calm & at peace NOTE: may not go through stages in order, may
go back & forth, may never get to last stage
PSYCHOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL
NEEDSNEEDS Dying person may want: Family & friend’s present To talk about fears & anxieties To be alone
Listen and let them express feeling in own way
Use touch to show caring (along with silence)
May want to see spiritual leader Provide privacy Be courteous to leader Handle spiritual objects with respect
PHYSICAL NEEDSPHYSICAL NEEDS Dying may take minutes, hours, weeks:
Body processes slow Person is weak LOC change Keep comfortable and maintain dignity
Vision blurs: Explain what doing May turn toward light, avoid bright lights Dark room may frighten Eyes may be ½ open with secretions in
corners – good eye care essential
PHYSICAL NEEDSPHYSICAL NEEDS Hearing one of last functions lost
Assume they can hear you – provide reassurance & explanations
Speak in normal voice Speech become difficult
Anticipate needs Don’t ask questions that require long
answers Continue to talk to person
PHYSICAL NEEDSPHYSICAL NEEDS Mouth Oral hygiene promotes comfort As death nears & unable to take frequent
oral fluids, frequent oral care important (esp. if can’t swallow)
Carefully clean nose (crusting) & apply lubricant prn
Circulation fails & body temp rises as death nears: Skin cool & mottled Diaphoretic – have increased need for skin
care & changing gown/ linens, use light covers
PHYSICAL NEEDSPHYSICAL NEEDS• Appetite slowly decreases to point
of no intake– Meat, first to avoid, followed by
breads/fruits/vegetables; then sweets only then liquids onto sips
water only
– Assist family to accept this
loss of appetite
PHYSICAL NEEDSPHYSICAL NEEDS Elimination
Incontinence may occur – pericare needed Constipation & urinary retention may
necessitate enemas & catheters
Comfort and positioning Good alignment & changing positions Analgesics prn May need Semi-Fowlers
position to make breathing easier
PHYSICAL NEEDSPHYSICAL NEEDS Person’s room should be comfortable &
pleasant: Well lit & ventilated Remove unnecessary equipment Keep upsetting equipment out of site Arrange mementos, religious items, flowers,
or significant items in view Family members may
be present all the time Room may be near
nurses’ station
FAMILYFAMILY† Hard time for family – show
feelings by being available & courteous† Stay as long as they wish - respect the
right to privacy, but don’t ignore care of patient
† Family members need support, understanding, courtesy, and respect – go thru same stages as patient
† Family may desire spiritual leader also
HOSPICE CAREHOSPICE CARE† Focuses on the physical, emotional,
social, and spiritual needs of dying† May be part of hospital or nursing
center or separate agency – many offer home care
† Not concerned with cure or life-saving measures, but comfort & preserving quality of life
† Provides follow-up care and support groups for survivors
LEGAL ISSUESLEGAL ISSUES† Much attention given to right to die† Consent is needed for any treatment.† The Patient Self-Determination Act and
OBRA (right to accept or refuse medical treatments) – Advance Directives:†Living wills: document with wishes†Durable power of attorney
† “Do not resuscitate” orders written by MD after consulting with patient & family
QUALITY OF LIFEQUALITY OF LIFE† Person has right to die in peace & with dignity
† Dying person’s bill of rights (see p. 810)† Right to privacy before & after death – drape &
screen
† Right to visit with others in privacy – family able to come & go freely, private room if possible
† Right to confidentiality (diagnosis & condition)
† Free from mistreatment or restraints
† Right to safe & home-like setting – protect property, keep odor-free, neat & clean
† Right to personal choice – advance directives – staff must respect choices
SIGNS OF DEATHSIGNS OF DEATH† Signs may occur rapidly or slowly:
† Movement, muscle tone, sensation lost – mouth may stay open
† Peristalsis slows – distention, fecal incontinence or impaction common
† Body temperature rises – feels cold, looks pale, & perspires heavily
† Circulation fails – pulse fast, weak, irregular & BP falls
† Respiratory system fails – Cheyne-Stokes or slow respirations & mucous collects (death rattle)
† Pain decreases as loses consciousness† At time of death: no pulse, respirations, or blood
pressure & pupils are fixed and dilated† Doctor must pronounce dead (coroner or medical
examiner may pronounce or be notified)
CARE OF THE BODY AFTER CARE OF THE BODY AFTER DEATH – POSTMORTEM DEATH – POSTMORTEM
CARECARE The right to privacy and the right to be treated with dignity and respect apply after death (close drapes, curtains, doors)
Care begins after pronounced dead Goal is to maintain good appearance of
body - discoloration & skin damage prevented, handle gently
Valuables gathered to give to family
Other patients may need support
CARE OF THE BODY AFTER CARE OF THE BODY AFTER DEATH – POSTMORTEM DEATH – POSTMORTEM
CARECARE Rigor mortis (rigidity of skeletal muscles) develops 2-4 hours after death Body positioned in normal body alignment
before rigor mortis sets in Body should appear in comfortable
position for viewing by family Moving body may cause expulsion of air
from lungs or intestines, normal sounds produced
Standard Precautions
CARE OF THE BODY AFTER CARE OF THE BODY AFTER DEATH – POSTMORTEM DEATH – POSTMORTEM
CARECARE Raise bed to comfortable level Place pillow under head & shoulders Close eyelids gently by pulling lashes down Close mouth using rolled washcloth under
chin to support closed position prn Follow facility policy for dentures (in mouth
or in cup to be sent to mortuary) Remove tubes, replace
dressings, inventory valuables
CARE OF THE BODY AFTER CARE OF THE BODY AFTER DEATH – POSTMORTEM DEATH – POSTMORTEM
CARECARE Bathe soiled areas & comb hair If family coming to view:
Apply clean gown & bed linen Cover body to shoulders Arrange room neatly Provide for privacy
Identify & assemble belongings - place in labeled bags for family – document
After body is removed, strip unit Follow instructions per charge nurse
CARE OF THE BODY AFTER CARE OF THE BODY AFTER DEATH – POSTMORTEM DEATH – POSTMORTEM
CARECARE Observe & report: What was done with belongings Unusual occurrences related to care Unusual responses of family or
residents Any other significant
observations Remove & discard
gloves, wash hands