Patient Care - Unit 8 - Death & Dying

terminal illness

a disease for which there is no cure and from which death is unavoidable

can terminal patients still look and function normally?

yes

grieving

someone can grieve for their own loss, loss can be due to impending death, disfigurement, and loss of ability

who wrote the 1969 book, "On Death and Dying"?

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

what is her book about?

to help doctors understand what patients are going through and explains common steps

what are the five stages of grieving?

denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

denial

not wanting to accept that it is happening to you

anger

may be directed toward healthcare provider

bargaining

willing to do anything that offers hope, may seek out alternative treatments

depression

isolation, loss of motivation, loss of hope

acceptance

coming to terms with fate, evaluating what to do with future, each individual grieves in their own way

hospice

provides palliative care to make patient comfortable, does not try to cure, strives to maximize value of time remaining

palliate

to make the effects of an illness less painful, harsh, or harmful