Palliative Care for COPD Patients

This essay discusses the application of palliative care in addressing the physical and psychological needs of COPD patients. It focuses on the case of Mrs. Brown, a 62-year-old woman with acute breathlessness and limited physical movement. The essay highlights two primary care priorities: management of respiratory problems and addressing depression, anxiety, and stress.

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Introduction
Palliative care is identified as one of the vital techniques for providing care to people who
suffering from life-limiting illnesses (Noppe, Veen & Mooren , 2018). Palliative care further
addresses the cultural, social, psychological as well as physical and mental needs of these
patients. According to Duenk et al. (2017), the care procedure primarily is performed according
to a holistic approach in order to provide psychological aid and to sustain the negative symptoms
of the patients. The following essay will focus on the case of Mrs. Brown, a 62 years old woman
who has been suffering from acute breathlessness and have gradually limited her physical
movement. In addition to this, the essay will shed light on the application of palliative approach
with two primary care priorities.
Body
The case study has significantly shed light on Mrs. Brown who has been showing critical
health symptoms related to COPD as well as symptoms related to chronic morning cough with
white sputum thus causing severe shortness of breath. From the case study, it can be seen that
patient, Mrs. Brown lives with her husband and is engaged in part-time employment. However,
since past two weeks, Mrs. Brown due to her severe cough is feeling trapped further resulting to
a rapidly deterioration and giving rise to other critical symptoms related to respiratory illnesses.
Noppe, Veen and Mooren (2018) have considered the issue of chronic cough as a highly major
symptom of COPD. Drawing evidence to the above factors, the first primary concern of nursing
care to be provided to Mrs. Brown must be a proficient management of respiratory problem and
the critical problem of chronic cough.

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In addressing the issues of Mrs. Brown, one of the palliative care provisions for
addressing the chronic cough will be the combined cure of corticosteroid as well as
bronchodilator treatment to give respite from such critical health symptoms. However, the
underlying factor for selecting this approach to improve health conditions of Mrs. Brown is to
decrease the chronic cough symptoms and at the same time refrain from taking any supplemental
oxygen therapy during hypoxic condition. From the case study it can be stated that as the patient
is suffering from severe shortness of breath, application of beta blockers will serve as the most
effective method in order to combat with this critical condition of Mrs. Brown. However, the
utilization of bronchodilators also shows a capacity to decrease the danger or risk of respiratory
difficulties in near future.
At this point of discussion, the use of bronchodilators is primarily linked to COPD and
thus helps the risks of dyspnea as well as respiratory dysfunction. Use of bronchodilators
exhibits highly effective outcomes while treating patients suffering from COPD. Studies of
Vermylen, Szmuilowicz and Kalhan (2015) have mentioned that the proper use of
bronchodilators will help in increasing the relaxation level of smooth muscles of bronchial thus
resulting the occurrence of inflammation in the airways in addition to a rise in the amount of
mucous inside the airway. Accordingly, the supply of air to the lungs will be improved which
will help the patient to regain relief. Meanwhile, studies of Brown, Jecker and Curtis (2016)
have claimed that the fundamental cause of COPD lays on the rate of restriction of air supply the
lungs. On the other hand, research conducted by Gardiner et al. (2010) has revealed that
corticosteroids treatment has the capacity to provide significant aid for treating severe symptoms
of COPD. Thus, drawing relevance to the above factors Gainza-Miranda et al. (2019) have noted
that such an effective nursing strategy will be highly appropriate for providing adequate relief to

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patients suffering from such critical health conditions. At the same time, while considering
severity of Mrs. Brown, such a nurse treatment will be helpful for her in reducing the risks of
COPD in future.
On the other hand, the collective therapy of corticosteroid along with bronchodilator
therapy in this case of Mrs. Brown can be applied as an effective nursing strategy in order to
provide sufficient relief to Mrs. Brown. As per the studies of Vermylen, Szmuilowicz and
Kalhan (2015), inhaled corticosteroids have high level of competence for offering productive
results in the treatment of COPD. Alongside, the combined therapy shows great usefulness in the
treatment of COPD. Studies of Reilly et al. (2016) have claimed that the collective release of
corticosteroids in addition to LABAs in single inhaler has greater level of effectiveness in
treatment of this critical condition comparative to single delivery of LABA. Thus, in the view of
Mi et al. (2018), such a combined therapy is highly recommended for the patients who are
suffering from regular severe shortness of breath. Furthermore, considering the case of Mrs.
Brown, it has been noted Mrs. Brown has been earlier admitted twice in the hospital before for
the COPD exacerbation. Moreover comprehensive studies of Lilly and Senderovich (2016) have
illustrated that proper usage of corticosteroids in case of COPD will improve the lung function as
well as oxygenation and consequently will shorten the duration of hospitalization and recovery
time of patient. Such an effective involvement in the approach of palliative care will efficiently
address the physical needs and requirements of patient and further facilitate the person to attain
psychological and mental needs of the patients.
At this juncture, the second priority of nursing care is observed which will help in
addressing problems of depression, anxiety and stress of Mrs. Brown. From the case study, it has
been observed that the primary reason of severe shortage of breath is due to her exacerbations of

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COPD which has severely restricted her ability to move or go outside her house. Such restricted
mobility has thus resulted to a decline mental health condition of Mrs. Brown and making her
highly apprehensive, lonely and distressed. On the other hand, as per the case study, Mrs. Brown
due to her deteriorating health condition and restricted mobility has led her to perceive her as a
burden for her family which has been gradually increasing her stress and causing her depression.
However, in order to provide care to reduce her increasing level of apprehension, nervousness
and depression, the second priority of nursing strategy can be focused on (Allen & Morrison,
2017). This nursing strategy must depend on the proficient management of mental health
condition of the patient. Furthermore, it is highly essential provide social support to the patient
for improving the level of psychological health conditions of the patient. As per the view of
Gainza-Miranda et al. (2019), as a vital part of palliative care, the primary focus must primarily
rely on the continuation and safeguarding of the psychological health conditions of the patient
related to nervousness, anxiety as well as depression which are intrinsically linked to the COPD.
Moreover, for continual exacerbation of COPD, providing social support will be of utmost
importance for improving mental conditions of Mrs. Brown and further increase her ability so
that she can manage her mobility properly. Additionally, such a social support will aid patients in
managing behavioural patterns such as smoking cessation typically associated with COPD as
well as breath shortness.
Additionally, factors related to anxiety, apprehension and stress are related to COPD
which have the tendency to increase social isolation, discomfiture, uneasiness as well as
disruption of social involvement amongst patients (Brown, Jecker & Curtis, 2016). While,
evaluating the case of Mrs. Brown it has been observed that the primary reason of Mrs. Brown
for encountering such health issues have been because of continual and frequent exacerbation of

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COPD. As a result, offering of adequate amount of social support can play a decisive role in
improving the level of mental health conditions of patient.
Conclusion
On a concluding note, two discussed methods of high priority of nursing care for Mrs.
Brown will effectively address the physical as well as psychological condition of the patient. It is
important to note, that the first therapeutic intervention is effectual in successfully managing the
physical health conditions of patient and on the other side, the nursing strategy of social support
will aid Mrs. Brown in enhancing the mental condition by reducing her level of anxiety,
nervousness and depression.

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References
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