Saito Mayumi, Yamada Mai, Kitamikado Hatsue, Sugihara Sachiko, Sueda Mieko, Yagishita Toshiyuki, Oka Yoichi
Dept. of Visiting Nurses, National Health Insurance Directly Managed General Hospital, Kimitsu Central Hospital.
Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2008 Dec;35 Suppl 1:54-5.
A visiting nursing service was provided for a 90-year-old male patient with terminal stage of pancreatic cancer whose prognosis was to live for two to three months. We provided nursing service not only for the patient's pain control but also for the member of the family by giving specific nursing tips as well as mental support. After the patient passed away, the eldest daughter was quoted saying "we could do everything we wanted to from home nursing care." It appeared that she was totally satisfied with our nursing service. We concluded the following caregiver roles based on this clinical example: 1) Try to alleviate a terminal patient's pain as much as possible so that the patient and the family will be at ease. 2) Arrange the care giver's anxiety individually. 3) Guide the care giver a specific know-how that can be accomplished and let the patient and the care giver choose which one they want. 4) Teach the process of the withholding and with drawing of life and try to consolidate the purpose of nursing intentions among the care givers. 5) Respect the patient and caregiver and make the best out of the situation by being flexible.
