Critical thinking in Palliative Care of Nursing Essay

Critical thinking in Palliative Care of Nursing - Essay Example ng to World Health Organization (WHO, 2009), palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and families who face life-threatening illness, by providing pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psychosocial support from diagnosis to the end of life and bereavement. Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in palliative care patients, reported in 80% of cancer patients and in up to 99% of patients following radio- or chemotherapy (Radbruch et al., 2008). The fatigue experienced as a side effect of cancer treatment is differentiated from the fatigue experienced by healthy people in their daily lives. Healthy fatigue is frequently described as acute fatigue that is eventually relieved by sleep and rest; cancer treatment–related fatigue is categorized as chronic fatigue because it is present over a long period of time and is not completely relieved by sleep and rest (National Cancer Institute, 2009). This study aims to identify the treatment modalities and symptom management for cancer-related fatigue including assessment, interventions, and collaborations with multidisciplinary health care professionals, in providing comfort to alleviate the sufferings of breast cancer patients. Concepts and knowledge from related literatures, research, and practice shall be applied to clearly understand its nursing implications taking into consideration the actual management of breast cancer patients during Oncology ward hospital exposure. In a broader sense, fatigue, also known as weariness, tiredness, exhaustion, or lethargy, is generally defined as a feeling of lack of energy (eMedicineHealth, 2009). Cancer-related fatigue is a feeling of debilitating tiredness or total lack of energy that can last for days, weeks, or months; commonly caused by anemia, fatigue is the side effect of chemotherapy that affects patients the most – more than nausea, pain, or depression; symptoms include feeling weak or worn out, having difficulties climbing stairs, walking short

Forensic nursing Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Forensic nursing - Term Paper Example According to the American Academy of Forensic sciences (AAFS) forensic nursing is â€Å"the application of forensic aspects of health care combined with the bio/psycho/social/spiritual education of the registered nurse in the scientific investigation of trauma and or death† (Hammer and Pagliario, 2006). In the past, forensic medical interventions (including lifesaving interventions) were withheld until a Forensic medical examiner (FME) has arrived at the emergency department and had collected evidence (Pyrek, 2006 ). In fact, clients were even transferred to other cities that offered forensic clinical services; moreover, there was not much intervention that could be provided in order to protect forensic evidence ( Pyrek, 2006). When a Forensic Nurse Examiner (FNE) is available at the clinical site, they are able to secure the important forensic evidence requiring timely recovery and preservation without withholding medical interventions ( Pyrek. 2006). In 1991, the American Society of Forensic Nurses was the first to recognize and accept Forensic Nursing as a specialty (Bader and Gabriel, 2009 ). The following year , 72 primary sexual assault nurse examiners formed the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) (International Association of Forensic Nurses, 2006). The aim of the IAFN promoted the education of forensic nurses; thus, the Forensic Nursing Code of Ethics and the Scope and Standards of Nursing Practice was developed in 1997(Bader and Gabriel, 2009). Forensic Nursing is a specialty that is still in its infancy, thus it needs to continuously grow to provide an appropriate response in trauma cases, provide a more holistic care to their clients, and create advocacy for their patients in an unbiased , scientific, and objective manner. In the past many of these roles have been carried out by emergency nurses who may not be