Quality of Life Nursing Care

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, even with intervention and assessment, and to some degree intra-observer variation, quality of life may not be enough to define a patient's contentment with life when faced with end of life issues. The author points out that life-changing events and end of life issues can be so sudden that a patient and her family may find control over their lives involuntarily wrenched from them. The paper cites that the transcendence theory can be a powerful motivator to achieve health care objectives for helping bereaved patients, their families and their nurses "move on" to understanding how suffering and changes can affect new individual insights. The author relates that, in caring for the older adult, it is sometimes more understood than appreciated that they may have more complaints to attend to, more symptoms that they complain of and may even be difficult to approach. The paper then independently reviews five different articles on this topic.

From the Paper:

"The second article tells of the triumph of the human spirit over seemingly impossible odds (McLean, 2006). In spite of his diagnosis of terminal colon cancer, firefighter lieutenant Mark Johnston underwent surgery in spite of the bleakness of his condition. What was remarkable was the camaraderie of his fellow firefighters, who would do what seemingly meant little more than keeping vigils with him. When Mark went into relapse after rejoining his team a year after, a testament to his spirit, he dispelled the prevailing myth of the palliative care unit's reputation for admitting patients that do not get discharged. In spite of this, Mark sought admission hesitantly at first, but with the constant show of support by family and friends during his times of greatest need and pain, he was able to eventually - and dramatically - return home."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bala, S. (2006 March). Family finds "piece of heaven" in St. Michael's Hospital. Hospital News. Retrieved November 13, 2006 from http://www.hospitalnews.com
• Dickie, A. (2006 March). Living at Grace: palliative care at Toronto Grace Hospital focuses on living. Hospital News. Retrieved November 13, 2006 from http://www.hospitalnews.com
• Grossman, G.(2006 March). Group art therapy provides support and healing. Hospital News. Retrieved November 13, 2006 from http://www.hospitalnews.com
• McLean, A. (2006 March). Going home: dispelling the myth of palliative care. Hospital News. Retrieved November 13, 2006 from http://www.hospitalnews.com
• Staviss, M. (2006 March). Alternative approaches aid recovery from limb loss. Hospital News. Retrieved November 13, 2006 from http://www.hospitalnews.com

More papers on Quality of Life Nursing Care:

• Term Paper # 107924 : "Palliative Care and End-of Life Nursing"
• Term Paper # 114600 : "Quality of Life in Healthcare"
• Analytical Essay # 139536 : "Nursing Care Plan Using Parse's Theory"

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