Florence Nightingale, Nursing, and Health Care Today by Lynn McDonald PhD LLD (Hon)

Author:Lynn McDonald, PhD, LLD (Hon)
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.
Published: 2017-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

APPLYING NIGHTINGALE’S EXAMPLE AND ADVICE TODAY

From Nightingale’s own practice of palliative care a number of specifics are clear, some of which would not be expected of a nurse at a hospital or care facility today:

•Administer drugs as prescribed by the physician.

•Administer food and drinks directed by the physician, as the patient can manage.

•Procure spiritual assistance from an appropriate chaplain (priest, minister, rabbi, imam) as requested by the patient.

•Provide spiritual comfort and counsel yourself if the patient requests it, such as by prayer or scripture reading.

•Alert family or friends of the patient’s coming end.

•If needed, and a more appropriate person is not available, ascertain the patient’s last wishes and pass these on to family or friends.

•Watch with the patient till the very end, all night if necessary. Close the deceased person’s eyes.

•Write family or friends with any last wishes and give details of the patient’s last days or hours.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1.What are the challenges for long-term care patients in your area? How adequate are services? What is available to low-income persons?

2.To what extent do you consider deficiencies in long-term care facilities in your area a matter for public provision? At what level of government?

3.Discuss examples of “incurable” diseases becoming curable, or at least significantly treatable. What were the factors influencing this change for HIV/AIDS?

4.What provisions for palliative care are available in your area? Attached to a hospital or how organized?

5.Are nursing students given explicit instruction on palliative care? How should it differ from other instruction in care?

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