Purpose

This week’s graded topics relate to the following Course Outcome (CO).

• CO 2 – Recognize the influence that developmental stages have on physical, psychosocial, cultural, and spiritual functioning. (PO #1)

Discussion

This week you have two options for your initial discussion post. Select the option that is best for you! Please remember to use and credit the lesson or required NIH website (there was not a textbook reading this week), AND one outside scholarly source.

Option #1 – Case Study to Consider

Ann and Michael have been married for 55 years. Ann is 80 years-old, and suffers from lung cancer and advanced Alzheimer’s disease. She currently resides in a nursing home, and often does not recognize Michael when he visits. Last night she was admitted to the hospital with difficulty breathing. Today, you are the nurse caring for Ann, and her physician is suggesting surgery to remove part of her lung to potentially slow the progression of her cancer. Michael is feeling unsure about this course of treatment, and asks for your advice and guidance.

How would you respond to Michael and serve as advocate for your patient?

Option #2 – Share a Related Experience

Share with your classmates a time when you cared for a patient at the end of their life. This may be a time when you assisted the patient (or their support system) with decisions related to end of life care; or a time when you were present for the death of a patient.

What were your observations related to this experience? Do you believe it was a peaceful death? What went well? Can you think of anything that could have made the experience better for the patient and/or family?

SOLUTION

Professor and Class,

In responding to Michael, I would educate him about the surgery as well as the benefits and risks associated with the surgery or failure to undergo the surgery. Among the benefits of surgery are that it relieves mass effect and symptoms, removes cancer cells to prevent their spread to other body parts, removes rumors in body parts that cannot be subjected to radiation, allows for pathology, it’s convenient for the patient, and there are chances for complete cure. The costs include failure to completely kill microscopic tumors may lead to further spread of the cancer, the patient may be unable to tolerate anesthesia and surgery (considering she is old, under other medications, and the cancer is on the lungs), may damage to closely located tissues, may lead to complications (e.g. infection), and high cost of care (Fabrikant, Wisnivesky, Marron, Taioli, & Veluswamy, 2018).

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