Efficient Caring for the Chronically Ill and Their Families, Essay Example

Introduction

The articles are about caring for the chronically ill, those with cancer and how it affects their families as well. It is supported by the second article which introduces the most common errors is healthcare, which is medication error. When caring for someone with cancer, these errors should be reduced for the sake of not only the ill, but also for the family. Families should be able to understand what cancer is and what it is not to be able to deal with it better. Nurses should be sensitive to these, and they can show this by reducing common errors which could result in devastating effects. Reducing medical errors when handling a patient with cancer can give their families confidence in you, that you are taking good care of their loved ones.

Evaluation of the Articles

This article faces the issues on the psychological effects cancer may have on the individual fighting or diagnosed with cancer, as well as their loved ones. It gives detailed accounts of real people and situations and how they have gone through it. Cancer is treated in this article as more of a psychological problem than anything. It shows that there is an ongoing need for compassion and attentiveness on the staff’s part to keep not only the chronically ill comfortable, but also their family. The family has to be able to know their options, and how they can better handle the situation. On the part of the hospital, it is crucial that all medical treatments are done right to the “T”. It is very important to be able to gain the confidence and the trust of the patients as well as their families. By doing this, they will be able to have a bit of peace and assurance in the hospital’s work (Murph, 2010).

This newspaper addresses the issue of medication mix-ups and errors staff may commit due to unclear records. This was seen as a problem in scrawled notes taken by staff and illegible writings which lead to the wrong medication; this can be in the form of wrong dosage or entirely the wrong type of medication administered to a patient. This poses a big problem with the patient and can greatly endanger them or result in graver situations. Medical staff should be careful when it comes to giving medication to patients, because there is a certain type of trust which is given to them by patients and their families. There are reports of medical errors and mix-ups which go unreported, and this creates a lot of problems for the hospital as well as the patient. This particular newspaper article is about the case of a certain family where this type of error was seen. After much research, it has been found that many errors such as this one are gone unreported and according to the article, over 2,200 incidents which resulted in death have gone unreported in Washington each year (Nalder, 2010).

Conclusion

It was established by the first article that it is very critical for patients who are diagnosed with cancer, along with their families, to be able to get the proper care they need. It is not only a physical affect on the patients, it goes deeper emotionally and psychologically. The hospital as well as its staff can ensure a level of comfort in providing the best medical care by reducing errors which can cause the patient more damage physically. Errors regarding medication may also cause the patient more psychological damage, and their comfort with the hospital and how they are being treated is also at risk. By reducing medical errors through constant care, and not making mistakes in terms of reading handwriting before administering medication and treatment can result in an overall better way of caring for the patients as well as their families.

References

Murph, P. (October, 2010). Hospice & Palliative Care: Psychosocial Aspects of Cancer Care: What Does It Mean for Our Patients and Families?. Home Healthcare Nurse Journal, 28(9); 533-540.

Nalder, E. (January 31, 2009). Despite law, medical errors likely go unreported. Seattle, Pi, Local. Seattle: Hearst Seattle Media.