Knowledge Assessment, Essay Example

According to the National Institute of Nursing Research and National Institutes of Health (2009), palliative care is a “comprehensive treatment of the discomfort, symptoms and stress of serious illness”. Palliative care alleviates symptoms such as pain and fatigue, and improves the quality of life. Hospice care is a specific form of palliative care which is offered at the end of life. Palliative care, in general can be implemented at any point in the illness. In the last stages of life, it is important to ensure that the patient is as comfortable as possible.” Dossey and Keegan (2013) note that a person will be more likely to experience a “good death” as opposed to a “bad death” if they are able “to die peacefully, to die with the knowledge that life has had meaning and that one is connected through time and space to others, to God, and to the universe is to die well.” A “good death” is usually well-planned and is more likely to occur with a slower-acting and more progressive illness.Adequate planning may involve the location, surroundings, and loved ones.Individuals may want to ensure that they have all legal and financial issues resolved, such as burial services, advanced directives, and having designateda power of attorney. It also helps if they are able to resolve personal issues and conflicts. Though conditions may vary, it is important that the dying individual be as comfortable as possible.

Grief is a deep sadness which often occurs in response to the loss of a loved one. It is a natural process of death and dying. How people experience grief is very personal. Dossey and Keegan (2013) state that “grief is not only normative, by dynamic, pervasive, and individual”.The psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross identified the usual five stages of grief as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Though not everyone will experience these phases in the same manner, it is important for people to reach the stage of acceptance in order for them to heal. Humanistic nurses are able to help patients achieve acceptance by offering support, counseling, and medical and palliative care. While nurses must ensure that patients are as physically comfortable as possible, humanistic and holistic nurses can also assist patients and their loved ones with the emotional and spiritual components of their illnesses. This involves mental preparation, conflict resolution, and helpingindividuals come to terms with death.A holistic nurse may offer assistance to the individuals who are coping with the loss of a loved one.

There are many models and theories for the addiction cycle. The usual progressionbegins when a person is seeking relief from a problematic emotion, situation, or behavior. In thisstate of vulnerability, the addict may experience a trigger which creates anemotional response to the addictive stimulus. This emotional sensation may beaccompanied by thoughts where the addict begins to view theaddictive substance as the only possible solution to relieve their state of discomfort. Brain chemicals may be altered and the addict may physically crave substance. The response depends on the addict’s decision whether or not to engage in their addiction. If they choose to engage their addiction, they may feel remorse or regret. The 12 step program is a method of recovery used by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) which focuses on spiritual development and transformation. It uses a new consciousness, which “refers to a movement away from addictive thinking and towards understanding of one’s life purpose or spiritual purpose” (Dossey& Keegan, 2013). The 12 steps involve the addict admitting that they are powerless to their addiction and only a complete commitment to “God” or a higher power can assist them in their transformation and recovery (“The twelve steps,” 2002). There are many different types of commonly abused drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, food, marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines. Addictions may also occur with specific behaviors, such as gambling, sexual practices, and even Internet usage. The physical effects of intoxication vary with each individual and the substances which they abuse. The Nova Scotia Department of Health (2008) categorizes substances based on the effects they have on the body. Stimulants such as caffeine, cocaine, tobacco, and methamphetamines increase energy, heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and pulse rate. The person may seem manic and more intense in mood. Marijuana, heroin, and alcohol are depressants, which slow the body, decreasing the pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and the heart rate.Individuals may present with fatigue, drowsiness, and confusion. Addictions are common, and nurses have the opportunity to help patients with their struggles by identifying the potential addiction and administering proper treatment. The detoxification and withdrawal process can cause many problems ranging from headaches, irritability, and in some instancesdeath.Nurses may also be able to help addicts with their emotional needs as well. They can encourage individuals to seek support, proper counselling, and may be able to offer alternative methods of dealing with addiction such as guided imagery, hypnosis, and meditation.

Family plays a significant role in the development of core values, culture socialization, and general well-being. Family is the first exposure an individual has with the world and culture can reinforce certain customs, beliefs, and behaviors. The support, or lack thereof, which patients receive from their families, can have a strong influence on the quality of life experienced by certain individuals. A study by Farajzadegan, Koosha, Sufi, and Keshvari (2013),found that there is a higher amount of well-being in Iranian women who are a part of families who are able to freely express their emotions and feelings, allowing them to have closer relationships. This study also noted that there is no “structured” program to assist with family function; it stressed the importance of nurses in supporting families in promoting cohesion and eliminating conflict.

Energy healing is a therapy which uses an energetic field to heal either oneself or another. Eden and Feinstein (2008) describe the various components of energy medicine which are used to correct imbalances in a person’s energy field. Popular energy healing methods include, but are not limited to Therapeutic Touch, Qigong, and Reiki. An aura is an energetic field surrounding an object. In terms of healing, an aura surrounds the physical body and stores relevant information relating to disease and state of wellness. The seven layers and three planes are interconnected and reveal information about chakra function. Chakras are energy centers in specific points in the body which process energy. There are seven common chakras which are located from the tailbone to the crown, with each having their own color and function. Meridians are pathways or channels through which energy circulates throughout the body. Acupuncture and acupressure are common methods of using meridians to treat disease. Intention is a purpose or objective which initiates the process of energy healing by focusing the goal of the practitioner to heal the patient. Dossey and Keegan (2013) report that research is increasing with the use of electricity, electromagnetism, and quantum physics. This research helps to increase knowledge to increase the validity of energy healing for medical practices.

References

Dossey, B., & Keegan, L. (2013).Holistic nursing.a handbook for practice. (6th ed.). Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Eden, D., & Feinstein, D. (2008).Energy medicine. New York: Penguin Group.

Farajzadegan, Z., Koosha, P., Sufi, G., &Keshvari, M. (2013). The relationship between family function and women’s well-being. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 18(1), 9-13. doi: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3748562/

Nova Scotia Department of Health.(2008). Drug classifications. Retrieved from http://www.druged.ednet.ns.ca/Supplement/Appendices/IRE/Classifications/Classifications.html

The twelve steps of alcoholics anonymous. (2002, May 09). Retrieved from www.aa.org/en_pdfs/smf-121_en.pdf?

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Nursing Research and National Institutes of Health. (2013). Palliative care: The relief you need when you’re experiencing the symptoms of serious illness (08-6415). Bethesda: