Palliative care is medical care that is intended to support and comfort a patient during a serious or life threatening illness, rather than treat his or her medical condition. Nurses specializing in this kind of care may be called upon to help anyone, from an elderly hospice patient to a child with cancer. The main goal of palliative care is to treat the symptoms of the illness and, in cases such as patients who are receiving chemotherapy, the side effects of the treatments being given for the illness. It can include prescribing medications for pain or anxiety, for example, but also includes things like providing companionship, arranging social interactions and discussing end of life issues.
Five things you should know before becoming a palliative care nurse
You became a nurse because of your sincere desire to help people. You want to see them live happy, healthy, productive lives. Becoming a palliative care nurse is one way to meet that goal, but here are some things you should consider before making that career choice.
•Some of your patients will not get better – This is perhaps the hardest fact for a nurse to face. You entered the medical field because you hoped to see your patients recover from their illnesses. Many times, however, patients who require palliative support will not get better. Their illness or disability may be life long, or they may succumb to its effects. The American Cancer Society, for example, puts the five year survival rate of patients diagnosed with cancer at just 68%. Most people lose their battle with this awful disease. In this branch of the nursing profession, you must face the difficult fact that many of your patients will not recover.
•You will need to be more than just a medical care provider – A large part of palliative nursing is providing emotional support and comfort to your patients. According to the National Cancer Institute‘s fact sheet on palliative care in cancer patients, this can include providing emotional support and counseling, organizing family meetings and even recommending therapy if necessary.
•Palliative care is not the same as hospice care – While many elderly hospice patients will require palliative care to address their fears, pain and discomfort as they near the ends of their lives, there are many other kinds of patients who need the same care. Cancer patients, for example, need help and support from the first moment of their diagnosis through the end of their treatment. They will need emotional support to deal with their frightening diagnosis, as well as help manage the pain caused by their condition and the unpleasant side effects of drug or radiation therapy, some of which will continue even after they have recovered.
•You must be your patient’s advocate – Most people are not at their best when they are ill or in pain. The same goes for the family members who are trying to help their loved one. There will be times when the needs of your patient and the needs of their family members seem to be in conflict. This is when you will need to do whatever is best for your patient. A family member may be pushing your patient to discontinue treatment, for example, or may have become short tempered with them. This is when you will need to step in and ensure that your patient’s needs are met. If this requires calling in law enforcement personnel or alerting social services, that is what you will need to do.
•You will be part of a team – When you are giving palliative nursing care, you will be part of a much bigger medical team, all working for the well being of your patient. The team may include a primary care physician, one or more specialists, pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers and even dietitians. You will need to be willing to coordinate your care choices with these other dedicated professionals.
An admirable calling
Giving your patients the loving care and support they need while they undergo stressful medical procedures or while they are facing the end of life issues is an admirable life’s work. If you can successfully face the unique challenges that this career demands, you will know that you are working at a job that makes a true difference in the lives of your patients.
Matibabu ya kupunguza maumivu ni huduma ya matibabu ambayo inakusudiwa kusaidia na kufariji mgonjwa wakati wa ugonjwa mbaya au hatari ya maisha, badala ya kutibu hali yake ya matibabu. Wauguzi wanaofanya kazi ya kuuguza wagonjwa wa magonjwa ya akili wanaweza kupewa kazi ya kumsaidia mtu yeyote, kuanzia mgonjwa mzee aliye katika hospice hadi mtoto aliye na kansa. Lengo kuu la huduma ya kupunguza maumivu ni kutibu dalili za ugonjwa na, katika kesi kama vile wagonjwa wanaopokea chemotherapy, athari za matibabu yanayotolewa kwa ugonjwa. Inaweza kujumuisha kuagiza dawa kwa maumivu au wasiwasi, kwa mfano, lakini pia inajumuisha mambo kama kutoa ushirika, kupanga mwingiliano wa kijamii na kujadili masuala ya mwisho wa maisha. Mambo matano unayopaswa kujua kabla ya kuwa muuguzi wa huduma ya kupunguza maumivu Ulianza kuwa muuguzi kwa sababu ya tamaa yako ya kweli ya kuwasaidia watu. Unataka kuwaona wakiishi maisha yenye furaha, yenye afya, na yenye matokeo. Kuwa muuguzi wa huduma ya kupunguza maumivu ni njia moja ya kufikia lengo hilo, lakini hapa ni mambo machache unapaswa kuzingatia kabla ya kufanya uchaguzi huo wa kazi. • Baadhi ya wagonjwa wako hawatapona <unk> Labda hii ndiyo ukweli mgumu zaidi kwa muuguzi kukabiliana nao. Uliingia katika uwanja wa matibabu kwa sababu ulitumaini kuona wagonjwa wako wakipona kutokana na magonjwa yao. Hata hivyo, mara nyingi wagonjwa wanaohitaji msaada wa kupunguza maumivu hawatapona. Huenda ugonjwa au ulemavu wao ukawa wa maisha yote, au huenda wakafa kutokana na matokeo yake. Shirika la American Cancer Society linakadiria kuwa asilimia 68 ya wagonjwa wanaopatikana na ugonjwa wa kansa hufa baada ya miaka mitano. Watu wengi hupoteza vita yao dhidi ya ugonjwa huu mbaya. Katika tawi hili la kazi ya uuguzi, lazima ukabili ukweli mgumu kwamba wagonjwa wako wengi hawatapona. •Utahitaji kuwa zaidi ya mtoa huduma ya matibabu tu <unk> Sehemu kubwa ya uuguzi wa kupunguza maumivu ni kutoa msaada wa kihisia na faraja kwa wagonjwa wako. Kulingana na karatasi ya ukweli ya Taasisi ya Kitaifa ya Saratani juu ya huduma ya kupunguza maumivu kwa wagonjwa wa saratani, hii inaweza kujumuisha kutoa msaada wa kihisia na ushauri, kuandaa mikutano ya familia na hata kupendekeza matibabu ikiwa ni lazima. • Utunzaji wa kupunguza maumivu si sawa na utunzaji wa hospice <unk> Wakati wagonjwa wengi wa hospice wa wazee watahitaji utunzaji wa kupunguza maumivu ili kushughulikia hofu zao, maumivu na usumbufu wanapokaribia mwisho wa maisha yao, kuna aina nyingine nyingi za wagonjwa ambao wanahitaji utunzaji sawa. Kwa mfano, wagonjwa wa kansa wanahitaji msaada na utegemezo kuanzia wakati wa kwanza wa utambuzi wao hadi mwisho wa matibabu yao. Watahitaji msaada wa kihisia ili kukabiliana na ugonjwa wao wenye kuogopesha, na pia kusaidia kudhibiti maumivu yanayosababishwa na hali yao na athari mbaya za dawa au matibabu ya mnururisho, ambayo baadhi yao yataendelea hata baada ya kupona. • Lazima uwe mtetezi wa mgonjwa wako <unk> Watu wengi hawawezi kuwa bora wakati wao ni mgonjwa au katika maumivu. Vivyo hivyo kwa washiriki wa familia wanaojaribu kumsaidia mpendwa wao. Wakati mwingine, mahitaji ya mgonjwa na mahitaji ya familia yake yanaweza kuwa kinyume. Wakati huo ndipo unahitaji kufanya kile kilicho bora kwa mgonjwa wako. Huenda mtu wa familia yako akamshurutisha mgonjwa wako aache matibabu, au huenda akawa na hasira kali. Hii ni wakati utakuwa na haja ya kuingia ndani na kuhakikisha kwamba mahitaji ya mgonjwa wako ni kukidhi. Ikiwa hii inahitaji kupiga simu kwa maafisa wa kutekeleza sheria au kuonya huduma za kijamii, hiyo ndiyo unayohitaji kufanya. • Utakuwa sehemu ya timu <unk> Unapotoa huduma ya uuguzi ya kupunguza maumivu, utakuwa sehemu ya timu kubwa zaidi ya matibabu, yote yakifanya kazi kwa ajili ya ustawi wa mgonjwa wako. Timu inaweza kujumuisha daktari wa huduma ya msingi, mtaalamu mmoja au zaidi, wauzaji wa dawa, wataalamu wa matibabu ya mwili, wafanyakazi wa kijamii na hata wataalamu wa lishe. Unahitaji kuwa tayari kuratibu chaguzi zako za utunzaji na wataalamu hawa wengine wa kujitolea. Kutoa wagonjwa wako huduma ya upendo na msaada wanaohitaji wakati wao kupitia taratibu za matibabu ya mkazo au wakati wao ni inakabiliwa na mwisho wa maisha masuala ni kazi ya maisha ya ajabu. Ikiwa utafanikiwa kukabiliana na changamoto za kipekee ambazo kazi hii inahitaji, utajua kuwa unafanya kazi ambayo inafanya tofauti halisi katika maisha ya wagonjwa wako.