unit 16 - cna sisu

acceptance

The stage in the grieving process where individuals come to terms with their loss and begin to adapt to life without the deceased.

Advanced Directives

Legal documents that allow individuals to specify their preferences for medical treatment in the event they become unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves.

Apnea

The cessation of breathing.

Assisted suicide

Providing assistance to a terminally ill person to end their own life, typically through the provision of medication, is subject to legal and ethical considerations.

Bargaining

A stage in the grieving process characterized by attempts to negotiate or make deals to avoid or postpone the reality of loss.

Autopsy

A postmortem (after death) examination performed by a pathologist to determine the cause of death and investigate any underlying medical conditions.

Bereavement

A stage in the grieving process characterized by attempts to negotiate or make deals to avoid or postpone the reality of loss.

Cachexia

A wasting syndrome characterized by extreme weight loss, weakness, and loss of appetite, often associated with advanced stages of illness such as cancer or HIV/AIDS.

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

A pattern of breathing characterized by alternating periods of deep, rapid breathing followed by shallow or absent breathing commonly observed in individuals nearing death.

Death doula

A trained professional who provides non-medical support and guidance to individuals and families facing the end of life, assisting with practical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the dying process.

Denial

A defense mechanism in which individuals refuse to accept or acknowledge a painful reality, often seen in response to a diagnosis or impending death.

DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)

A medical order indicating that a patient does not wish to receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest.

Durable Power of Attorney

A legal document that designates a trusted individual to make healthcare decisions on behalf of another person if they become incapacitated.

Euthanasia

The practice of intentionally ending a person's life to relieve suffering, often a highly controversial and legally restricted topic.

Grief

The emotional response to loss includes feelings of sadness, anger, guilt, and despair.

Hospice care

A type of palliative care for terminally ill patients, usually provided in the patient's home or in a specialized facility, focuses on comfort and quality of life rather than curative treatment.

Living will

A legal document that outlines an individual's preferences regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care, specifically addressing interventions they do or do not want if they are unable to communicate their wishes.

Morgue

facility where deceased individuals are temporarily stored and examined pending identification, autopsy, or burial.

Palliative care

Specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a serious illness, with the goal of improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

Patient Care Self-Determination Act

Legislation that requires healthcare facilities to inform patients of their rights regarding advance directives and to document patients' preferences for end-of-life care.

Postmortem care

Care provided to the body of a deceased individual, including cleaning, positioning, and preparation for viewing or transportation.

Rigor mortis

Stiffening of the muscles which occurs after death, resulting from chemical changes in the body.

Shroud

A cloth covering used to wrap the body of a deceased person, often as part of cultural or religious funeral rituals.

Terminal illness

A disease or condition that cannot be cured and is expected to result in death within a certain period.