Artificial Nutrition and Hydration, Essay Example

A fundamental area in care giving is the provision of food and fluids; this occurs throughout the life and is essential from birth to death (Eggenberger & Nelms, 2003). There are issues which arise when there is an individual who is not capable to provide him or herself adequate nutrition of foods and fluids; this may be a person who is suffering from a life-limiting illness, the individual refuses to take nourishments or simply cannot due to a condition. The decision when it comes to providing this artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) is then critical for the patients’ life. Families must consider all options; given their values, beliefs and patients’ prognosis, as well as clinical recommendations before making this decision (Ersek, 2003).

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration is a non-oral way of administering nutrition to a person who cannot for any means take in the needed nutrition to continue living (Eggenberger & Nelms, 2003).  There are many methods which this can be done, and involves both enter-al and intravenous routes of administering the nutrition. This is usually seen with patients who are receiving palliative care. The goals of this artificial nutrition and hydration are seen as therapeutic. The objectives of ANH design is to increase survival as well as the aspiration of pressures sores, to increase comfort in patients and to lessen the symptoms which are related to malnutrition (Ersek, 2003).

There are two ways of viewing this area of study; this can be seen in the qualitative method as well as the quantitative. The questions being asked by the two differ in theory. The study of ANH is concerned with how to help families make the decision of administering ANH to a loved one, as well as when the need for ANH arises and how effective it is in caring for patients who are in need of palliative care (Eggenberger & Nelms, 2003).  The variables in this study are the illnesses which are presented as well as the age of those who are in need of the care. The family values and beliefs as well as clinical recommendations pose also as dependent variables (Ersek, 2003).

This study hypothesizes that elderly patients who are in need of palliative care and cannot by any means acquire the right amount of daily nutrition should leave the decision of administering ANH to their families. Families have different perspectives on this, and the need for ANH in patients who are at the risk of being malnourished will be elaborated (Ersek, 2003).  The proper education on ANH as well as its benefits shall be studies and further explained. There needs to be an improvement in how the hospitals approach this decision, and how they can promote ANH within the family.

The families need to be assured that their loved one is being well taken care of, and the possible risks need to be explained (Ersek, 2003).  One of the main goals and objectives for ANH is to provide the patient who is in need of palliative care the most comfort he or she can get, as well as to decrease the signs and symptoms of malnutrition. It should be well explained to the families that refusal to administer ANH can lead to serious complications and even death. For those families who would like to prolong their loved ones’ life, ANH should be considered (Eggenberger & Nelms, 2003).

ANH is something which is beneficial for those who are receiving or are in need of palliative care. It is designed to administer food and fluid in the body for those people who are incapable of doing so themselves to receive their daily nutrition needs. The needs for ANH arise when a patient is chronically ill, elderly or even refuses to intake their daily nutritional needs. ANH is designed for the comfort of patients and its goals are to decrease or lessen signs and symptoms of malnutrition, which can cause more complications to a patients’ illness.

References

Eggenberger, S.K., & Nelms, T.P. (2003). Artificial hydration and nutrition in advanced Alzheimer’s disease:facilitating family decision-making. Journal for Clinical Nursing. 13(4); 661-667.

Ersek, M. (2003). Artificial Nutrition and Hydration: Clinical issues. Journal of Hospice and Pallatiave Nursing. 5(4); 221-232.