Empathy Map Assignment: Healthcare Therapeutic Use of Self

This assignment presents an empathy map analysis focused on a case study involving a mother, Marie, and her son, Sam, who is diagnosed with neuroblastoma. The analysis explores the therapeutic use of self from a nursing perspective, examining the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the situation. The empathy map considers what the nurse sees, does, thinks, and feels in response to the case, including the challenges of the disease, the impact of treatment, and the difficult decisions regarding palliative care and potential new drug trials. The analysis highlights the importance of providing psychological support to the mother, considering her financial constraints, and exploring all available treatment options to improve the patient's and family's wellbeing. The assignment includes a bibliography of relevant sources to support the analysis.

Running head: THERAPEUTIC USE OF SELF
THERAPEUTIC USE OF SELF
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1THERAPEUTIC USE OF SELF
Creating an Empathy Map
Figure 1: Empathy Map of given case study

2THERAPEUTIC USE OF SELF

3THERAPEUTIC USE OF SELF
Exploration of emotion related to the given case study
See
From the case study, the suffering of both mother Marie and son, Sam was observed.
The sufferings were not only from the disorder, Neuroblastoma but also from physiological
aspects were observed. Regular worsening of the situation in the medical condition of Sam
that is metastasis of cancer to different parts of the body was assessed. The nursing or
medical intervention such as chemotherapy was administered; however, the recovery was not
found as expected in this case.
Does
As the misery in the scenario of Marie and Sam was evident, it is important to
consider nursing intervention in this case. The level of suffering was so high that Marie
decided not to continue any treatment for Sam and prepare for his death. The nurse needs to
intervene in this situation and support her by offering her mental support. Her psychological
wellbeing was disturbed that need to be restored and help her understand that death is not the
only option. The nurse needs to make her understand to try the new drug trial. This is because
as per the doctor, this may be a successful intervention for Sam. Therefore, the details of the
new drug trials need to be evaluated, and the benefits of using it on Sam need to be stated to
Marie so that she is convinced to use it and not drastically take any step based on the current
situation or suffering.
Think
As per the thought-process of the nurse, she or he needs to recognise all the aspects in
the individual, Marie and Sam. Marie was having a miserable time and did not have any
support from her family. It was difficult for her to back up the treatment financially because
of various constraints. These aspects need to be evaluated, and solutions to these need to

4THERAPEUTIC USE OF SELF
assessed prior to making her understand that it is important to try the new drug trial. The
conditions need to be evaluated on the basis of current state and solutions to be them, such as
the provision of financial support, free trialling process by considering the financial status of
the patient and other aspects need to be undertaken in this case for gaining the support of the
mother to the new drug trial on Sam.
Feel
As a nurse, I feel that both Marie and Sam are undergoing very stressful situation and
at the very moment, Marie does not have other options rather than asking the palliative care
team to prepare death for Sam. However, as a palliative nurse, I am well acquainted with
such situation, and thus, I feel that I need to take action in order to convince Marie and show
her the positive sides of the new drug trial. In addition, she needs to consult a psychiatrist that
will help her ease the mental pressure and pain that is caused due to her son’s situation.
Moreover, it is important that her thinking ability be cleared which can be done by talking to
her in an extensive manner.

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Bibliography
Den Hartogh, G. (2017). Suffering and dying well: on the proper aim of palliative
care. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy, 20(3), 413-424.
Duan, K., Dickson, B. C., Marrano, P., Thorner, P. S., & Chung, C. T. (2019). Adult‐onset
neuroblastoma: Report of seven cases with molecular genetic characterization. Genes,
Chromosomes and Cancer.
Ladenstein, R., Pötschger, U., Pearson, A. D., Brock, P., Luksch, R., Castel, V., ... &
Balwierz, W. (2017). Busulfan and melphalan versus carboplatin, etoposide, and
melphalan as high-dose chemotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma
(HR-NBL1/SIOPEN): an international, randomised, multi-arm, open-label, phase 3
trial. The lancet oncology, 18(4), 500-514.
Steinbock, B. (2017). Physician‐Assisted Death and Severe, Treatment‐Resistant
Depression. Hastings Center Report, 47(5), 30-42.