Nursing Care of Chronic Caregivers, Essay Example

Long-term caregiving is becoming a bigger part of the American experience every day.  In the New York Times article about the Bucholtz/Romano family, we see an example of multigenerational caregiving over several decades, caring for both children and adults.

There are a multitude of issues that can arise in such situations both for the caregiver and nursing support staff.  Some of these issues include depression in the caregiver, survival techniques for the caregiver and how a support nurse can best help a caregiver in providing the ongoing care.

In the article by Chung, Pressler, Dunbar, Lennie and Moser (2010), the authors looked at several factor to evaluate predictors of depressive symptoms in caregivers of chronically ill patients.  They found that the caregiver’s own functional status, as well as perceived control and overall perception of caregiving distress all played into the depressive symptoms of the caregiver.

This becomes very important in caring  for the caregiver.  What this tells me in my daily work, is that caregivers do not necessarily become depressed by caregiving ( and there are a multitude of articles to support this), but rather they become depressed if their perceived control over the situation, whether internally or externally, becomes jeopardized.  This means that my job as a support nurse for a chronic caregiver must include careful listening to the caregiver, as well as trying to help find ways for the caregiver to remain physically healthy, in control and engaged in the decision-making process for the chronically ill patient.  I must also look for ways to help ease the perceived caregiving burden for the caregiver.  This is illustrated in the article from the NYT where Ms. Romano speaks with a Ms. Weiss who, through a simple phone conversation, is able to alleviate Ms. Romano’s fears and concerns, and help her believe that she can take care of her mother and brother, and that she will get the help she needs to succeed.

In the second article by Buffum and Brod (1998), the team looked at the use of humor among caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  The authors found that caregiver use of humor was closely associated with caregiver well-being, and again this is illustrated in the newspaper article on the Bucholtz/Romano family.  Ms. Romano says she just kept smiling and took one day at a time.

As a nurse, this helps me understand how important the use of humor with both the patients and the caregivers of chronically ill patients will be.  I think it will also be beneficial for myself in my job.  When we help to care for chronically ill patients, it can be depressing and sad, and to know that the use of humor is not out of place, but can actually be therapeutic for both the patient and the caregiver, helps me as a nurse.   I think it will also be therapeutic for me during long days and dealing with difficult issues in patient care and caregiver aid.

In reading these three articles, I have developed a new interest in the psychology behind nursing.  The way we interact with our patients, the way we interact with their families and what we say and do around them carries an enormous impact.  I have grown to understand the importance of hearing out patients and their caregivers, and the importance of maintaining a healthy self so I can give of myself both in terms of listening, humor and kindness.  I have also learned that it is very important that I become familiar with what help exists for my subset of patients and caregivers.  This requires that I cooperate with physicians, social workers, physical therapists, case workers and others to educate myself on how to best care for patients.

Overall, I believe I have grown professionally through the research of this paper.  I look forward to implementing this growth in my professional life, both while studying and during practical nursing work.  I am humbled by the great impact I could have, both positive and negative, on my future patients and their families.

References

Buffum M.D., Brod M., (1998).  Humor and well-being in spouse caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.  Applied Nursing Research (APPL NURS RES), 1998 Feb; 11(1): 12-8 (27 ref). Retrieved Nov 29, 2010, from http://library.molloy.edu:2074/ehost/detail?vid=11&hid=111&sid=015d369d-e3b5-4b66-  bf09-9b17642e0dd9%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=1998032712

Chung M.L., Pressler S.J., Dunbar S.B., Lennie T.A., Moser D.K. (2010).  Predictors of depressive symptoms in caregivers of patients with heart failure.  Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2010 Sep-Oct; 25 (5): 411-9 (journal article – research, tables/charts) ISSN: 0889-4655 PMID: 20714239 CINAHL AN: 2010766515. Retrieved Nov 29, 2010, from http://library.molloy.edu:2074/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=111&sid=015d369d-e3b5-4b66-bf09-9b17642e0dd9%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=2010766515

Mascia J. (2010).  A lifelong caregiver, always with a smile.  New York Times, p. A16, November 27, 2010.