Patient's Situation in a Practice of Adult Nurses

ADULT NURSING PRACTICE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
DESCRIPTION................................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................2
ACTION PLAN...............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Death and dying are inevitable but dealing with it is the toughest task which can be faced
by healthcare professionals in clinical practices. In this essay, I would lay emphasis upon the
patient’s situation which was faced by him in my observation from past 8 weeks. I will make use
of Driscoll model of reflection and analysis of the occurring event will be fully based on my
experience. It contains mainly three stages which are what, so what and now what.
Reflection theory will lay emphasis on practical skills and responsibilities which can
support in improving and learning. This theory will help in understanding what actually
happened to patient, my feelings at time of service users' death and what I am going to do about
this situation (Wallston and et.al., 2014). This consideration is important in nursing as it will
support in building capacities and can make it easier for us to accept the failure.
DESCRIPTION
Sam was a 70-year-old man who was being admitted to hospital as he was suffering from
last stage lung cancer. It was analysed that this patient was also suffering from respiratory
problems. This was because service user was addicted to smoking. It was noted that various
other issues were also faced by Sam such as shortness in breathing and weight loss. I had also
analysed that the patient was also going through disorders such as depression and isolation due to
disease like cancer.
As per the view of Odell, 2015 to overcome these conditions, nurses are required to
monitor and analyse the vital signs of changes in service user. It can support them in improving
outcomes of sufferer. For reducing effect of lung cancer, doctors were in charge to provide Sam
with chemotherapy. They also gave him drugs like Pemetrexed (Alimta) to reduce pain, which he
was suffering because of his diseases. Due to advancing age and severity of illness, patient was
provided with palliative care. Because of the adverse conditions, Sam was unable to attain the
active care and was therefore observed in acute pain for which he was provided with medication
(Neville and Roan, 2014). This decision was taken by health-care professionals and Sam after
discussing the situation with his family members. Patient was being nursed at the end of life care,
because he was at the final stage lung cancer and it was very difficult for nurses to predict when
exactly will death occur to him. It was interpreted that Sam was a happy go lucky person and
was liked by every hospital staff too.

It was evening time, when patient pressed the bell and called me to seek assistance. At
that time, I was occupied with my senior, taking guidance from him on how to properly manage
the service user. After a while I attended Sam, when he asked me to use wash-room. At that
moment Sam was alright, he walked to the toilet with the help of his walker and suddenly I
noticed an alteration in his breathing. Patient was unable to breathe and all of a sudden, he
became unstable. He was not responding to my voice and was unconscious for few minutes. I
shouted for help and patient just fell down in my arms The other hospital staff arrived
immediately and put him on bed (Maybery and et.al., 2014). They provided service user with
emergency care and checked his respiratory and pulse rate. Doctors claimed that the situation of
patient was critical and after few minutes, he was declared dead.
ANALYSIS
The entire incident occurred very suddenly. Nurses, physicians, doctors, health-care
professionals, therapist arrived immediately with one objective of treating Sam and making sure
that his health and well-being gets controlled. They worked superbly as a team but was unable to
save him. After this incident took place, I was flooded with lots of questions. I thought about
what should have done by me to save Sam. This was the first time in my life, when I witnessed a
dying person, that too in my hands. I became emotionally unstable after that and was full of fear.
After the death of Sam, I was in shock and was continuously thinking about him. I thought about
how much pain has patient suffered from and it will be so difficult for his family member to live
without him. My senior observed my conditions and decided to give me a break (Maybery and
et.al., 2014). Then I went at my friend’s home, where I felt relaxed and stressed free because of
the changing environment. All the senior staff members and health care professionals took this
incident in a professional way. Culture intersected with previous experience and work setting has
help shape nurses in responding to and perceived death.
I have analysed that in this situation doctors work together to fulfil the needs of patient.
Berragan,2014 defined nursing as the practice which is used to provide acute care to service user
to put him in the best condition. This practice supports individual to improve, heal and reduce the
impact of disease which in turn enhance their quality of life. It provides them ability to cope up
with health-related issues. In my placement, I tried to give the best treatment to all patients as per