End-of-Life Nursing Care

CHAPTER 16


End-of-Life Nursing Care


This care plan focuses on care of the adult client who is expected to die soon. The information included is appropriate for clients in acute or extended care settings or in the home. The major goals of nursing care are to prevent or control physiological problems that could reduce the quality of the client’s remaining life; facilitate the client’s psychological adjustment to his/her imminent death; and assist the client to experience a peaceful, dignified death. The nurse also assists the significant others to understand the dying process, support the dying person, meet their own physical and emotional needs, and adjust to their loss of the client.


This care plan does not deal with any particular medical diagnosis. The nursing diagnoses included are those that are relatively common to all persons facing death. Care plans that pertain to the client’s specific medical diagnosis will provide additional guidelines for nursing care during the terminal stages of that illness.


Use in conjunction with the Care Plan on Immobility and care plans that pertain to the client’s medical diagnosis.



Nursing Diagnosis IMPAIRED RESPIRATORY FUNCTION*


Definition: Inability of an individual to maintain adequate ventilation of the respiratory tract and perfusion of oxygen (o2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) between the lungs and vascular system to maintain adequate tissue oxygenation.


Ineffective breathing pattern NDx related to:



Ineffective airway clearance NDx related to:



Impaired gas exchange NDx related to:













Nursing Diagnosis RISK FOR ASPIRATION NDx


Definition: At risk for entry of gastrointestinal secretions, oropharyngeal secretions, solids, or fluids into the tracheobronchial tract


Related to:







Nursing Diagnosis ACUTE/CHRONIC PAIN NDx


Definition: Unpleasant sensory and emotional experience arising from actual or potential tissue damage. Acute: sudden or slow onset of any intensity from mild to severe with an anticipated or predictable end and a duration of <6 months. Chronic: sudden or slow onset of any intensity from mild to severe; constant or recurs without an anticipated or predictable end and has a duration of >6 months.


Related to:







Nursing Diagnosis NAUSEA NDx


Definition: A subjective, unpleasant, wave-like sensation in the back of the throat, epigastrium, or abdomen that may lead to the urge or need to vomit


Related to: Stimulation of the vomiting center associated with:







Nursing Diagnosis IMPAIRED COMFORT NDx (ABDOMINAL DISTENTION AND GAS PAIN)


Definition: Perceived lack of ease, relief, and transcendence in physical, psychomotor, ent viront mental, and social dimensions


Related to: An accumulation of gas and fluid in the gastrointestinal tract associated with decreased gastrointestinal motility resulting from depressant effect of some medications (e.g., narcotic [opioid] analgesics) and decreased activity



Feb 11, 2017 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on End-of-Life Nursing Care

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