Reflective Practice in Palliative Care: A Case Study

Description
In a placement during my second year when I was working in a palliative care ward, I was
working under the supervision of my mentor, caring for a 88 years old man, Mr Keith who
was an inpatient on the ward for 12 days after being diagnosed as having a cerebral bleed.
This had left Mr Keith with a right sided aphasia. It was during this time it was diagnosed
that Mr Keith was also suffering from perforated bowel and after discussion with his family
from the medical stuff it was decided that Mr Keith was for no further active care and was
to remain in the side room for palliative care (Li, and et. Al., 2020).
Feelings
During my second year as a student nurse I had been involved with the care or palliative
patients. However, I felt I still lacked confidence in this situation in communicating with
patients and families. I had been involved in Mr Keith care from admission as I had been her
admitting nurse and I felt I had established a good patient and nurse relationship which in
accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council allows for patient centred care. This is a
difficult time for the Keith family and as stated within The Healthcare Quality Strategy for
NHS Scotland. I would strive to provide care that was both caring and compassionate.
Evaluation
The negative aspect of this situation was that I was dealing with a palliative care patient and
that it was inevitable that my patient would die.
Jones (2012) advocates that it is essential in nursing to have good communication skills. This
is also advocated by Dougherty and Lister who states that communication is an integral part
of maintaining a high quality of record keeping which is regarded as a vital standard of
practice by the NMC. Communication and written care records aid to establish a continuity
of care. As nurses have a crucial role in care provision. It is important to note that any
information that is given to Mr Keith’s family is given in an open and honest manner and to
ensure that they understand and give opportunity to ask questions (Markkanen and et. Al.,
2020.). As Mr Keith was a palliative care patient it gave rise to effective teamwork within the
multi-disciplinary team to ensure all Mr Keith’s needs were met as well as his families to
ensure continuity of care whilst showing clinical excellence.
Analysis
The World Health Organisation (ND) describes palliative care as “an approach that improves
the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-
threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early
identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems,
spiritual, physical, and psychosocial.”
A holistic approach was taken in planning Mr Keith’s care incorporating psychological, social,
physical, emotional and environmental needs (Thiagraj and Karim, 2020). These needs are
not only imperative to the patient but also had to include all Mr Keith’s family in who he had
requested to be involved. Within the ward I worked active care plans and patient care plans