Which two factors may work as adaptive strategies for facing death?
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Providing information
With less information, some patients can become frustrated. Although it is not typically the role of a nurse to break bad news regarding a terminal diagnosis, nurses can help supplement or recap information with the patient. As the Houston Chronicle pointed out, it is important to understand, however, that patients will receive information at varying paces and in varying degrees of detail, contingent on emotional state, mental health and other factors. The goal of the nurse is to become attuned to the patient’s needs, providing the information he or she wants to know and answering all questions as truthfully, yet delicately, as possible.
Listening to the patient
According to “Compassionate care of the terminally ill,” research published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, one of the most effective ways that nurses (and physicians) can help provide emotional support is to actively listen to patients. The listening should involve encouraging patients to open up about their life story and recount significant moments that have shaped who they are and contributed to their happiness. Such discussions can help patients look back on their life and more effectively come to terms with the fact that they are about to die. It also can help to discuss the patient’s spiritual or religious beliefs, if they have any. The Houston Chronicle stressed, however, that it is important for nurses to avoid explaining their own spiritual beliefs to the patient.
Identifying depression
All terminally ill patients will become depressed at some point throughout their journey. Consequently, nurses should be educated to discern between grief over a terminal diagnosis and symptoms of clinical depression, which is common in the chronically ill. In the “Compassionate care of the terminally ill” study, researchers noted that up to a fourth of cancer patients experience the clinical form of depression known as major depressive disorder.
With less information, some patients can become frustrated. Although it is not typically the role of a nurse to break bad news regarding a terminal diagnosis, nurses can help supplement or recap information with the patient. As the Houston Chronicle pointed out, it is important to understand, however, that patients will receive information at varying paces and in varying degrees of detail, contingent on emotional state, mental health and other factors. The goal of the nurse is to become attuned to the patient’s needs, providing the information he or she wants to know and answering all questions as truthfully, yet delicately, as possible.
Listening to the patient
According to “Compassionate care of the terminally ill,” research published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, one of the most effective ways that nurses (and physicians) can help provide emotional support is to actively listen to patients. The listening should involve encouraging patients to open up about their life story and recount significant moments that have shaped who they are and contributed to their happiness. Such discussions can help patients look back on their life and more effectively come to terms with the fact that they are about to die. It also can help to discuss the patient’s spiritual or religious beliefs, if they have any. The Houston Chronicle stressed, however, that it is important for nurses to avoid explaining their own spiritual beliefs to the patient.
Identifying depression
All terminally ill patients will become depressed at some point throughout their journey. Consequently, nurses should be educated to discern between grief over a terminal diagnosis and symptoms of clinical depression, which is common in the chronically ill. In the “Compassionate care of the terminally ill” study, researchers noted that up to a fourth of cancer patients experience the clinical form of depression known as major depressive disorder.
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