Referral to a palliative care physician or a pain specialist. The nurse needs to assess whether or not the patient has seen palliative care physician or a pain specialist. Many other pain treatment options are available for end stage cancer that do not have addictives properties such as NSADISs and adjutant analgesics such as corticosteroids for neuropathic pain and biosphosphates for bone pain (Davies and Squi, 2002). Mrs. Thomas has knowledge deficit related to understanding pain therapy – and needs to understand the difference between addiction and treatment. A palliative care physician can help educate Mrs. Thomas to pain treatment options and other alternative interventions such as palliative radiation to shrink tumor that may be the source of her pain.
3. Referral to Social Worker When the nurse completes a social dignity inventory he/she will note that the there is deficit related to the ability of the spouse to provide care due to the husband’s depression and lack of knowledge the disease process. A social worker can help identify agencies that can provide a patient care assistant (PCA) or respite to assist the spouse with caring for his wife. The social worker may be able to identify meal programs that will deliver food in the event the husband is unable to prepare foods while working and caring for his …show more content…
Thomas’s wishes in the management of her care before Mrs. Thomas reached the point in her disease when she could not make such determinations. Often, individuals do not have the time to make such declarations and family has to presume what their loved one may have wanted. It is important to have the discussion with the patient upon entering palliative care as to what their wishes would be in the event they are too ill to make decisions for themselves.
D. Explain how you, as the community health nurse, can intervene in this situation in the management of Mr. Thomas’s chronic depression. The nurse would have had the assistance from a social worker to help identify psychological therapy for Mr. Thomas and his sons. The nurse would assess Mr. Thomas at each visit to determine his level of depression to determine if any other intervention is needed.
The nurse would have assessed at intake the family religious needs. The family may not be active members of their church, but in times of crisis may reach out to their faith. The nurse could make a referral for a chaplain to come and visit Mr. Thomas if needed. In addition, the nurse would have identified support groups whether online or in person to present information, provide comfort, teach coping skills, help reduce anxiety, and provide a place for Mr. Thomas to share common concerns and receive emotional support (Zabalegui , Sanchez, Sanchez, Juando ,