Dignity and Whole Person Care
What is the overarching aim of palliative care related to dignity?
To promote dignity and enhance QOL.
What functional change causes fatigue and dyspnea in HF?
Reduced cardiac output.
What is one physical coping strategy used by HF patients?
Energy conservation, sleep hygiene, nutrition, medications, etc.
What is a common reason for admission to acute medical units?
Uncontrolled physical symptoms.
What model helps nurses understand a patient's coping?
The stress and coping model.
Name one element that contributes to a person's sense of dignity.
Feeling valued, important, or having self-worth.
Name one common HF symptom.
Dyspnea, edema, fatigue, cough, ascites, JVD, weight gain, etc.
What is one psychological coping strategy in HF?
Acceptance, distraction, mindfulness, positive psychology, meaning-making.
What is another common reason for admission besides symptoms?
Psychological distress or unresolved issues.
What question helps nurses understand the person beyond the illness?
"What do I need to know about you as a person to give the best care?"
What shapes a person's experience of dignity?
Internal and external factors (who they are and their context).
What structural change occurs in HF due to chronic stress?
Ventricular remodelling (dilation or hypertrophy).
What is one social coping strategy HF patients use?
Relying on family, technology, or building community connections.
What may cause social breakdown requiring admission?
Caregiver burnout or inability to manage at home.
Name one way nurses shape the illness experience.
Using curiosity, assessment, reframing success, holding hope.
What are the four domains of the whole person?
Physical, psychological, social, and spiritual.
Which symptom may indicate hepatic involvement from HF?
Hepatomegaly or ascites.
What is one spiritual coping strategy?
Re-evaluation meaning, faith practices, acceptance, reflection.
Which illness trajectory shows sharp decline near the end?
Cancer trajectory.
Why is "hope" important in palliative nursing?
It supports emotional coping and aligns care with what matters most.
Why must nurses understand all four domains in palliative care?
They influence how illness is experienced and how to plan individualized care.
Why might HF patients experience cognitive changes?
Reduced oxygen delivery and perfusion to the brain.
What is "intensive caring"?
Deep, ongoing support through presence, trust, dignity, and affirming who the patient is.
How does the organ failure trajectory typically progress?
Gradual decline with exacerbations and partial recoveries until the final event.
What is the goal when guiding patients toward positive stress?
To support coping, reduce stress, and improve the illness experience.