Palliative Care for COPD Patients

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
NURSING ASSIGNMENT
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1NURSING ASSIGNMENT
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.

2NURSING ASSIGNMENT
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