Many people go through physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioural reactions as a response of having a newly diagnosed condition with a poor prognosis. A prognosis is described as the “prediction about how something…will develop” (Diagnosis vs. Prognosis, 2015) so a poor prognosis would most likely have a dismal outcome. For example cancer, which can be helped but it might come back and there is no definite cure. This means hearing you have cancer would be a poor prognosis. The different reactions that occur are likely reactions to a newly diagnosed condition with a poor prognosis. It is a way to deal with the condition and handle the situation. The patient can have a multitude of emotions as a reaction and it is important for the health …show more content…
Being upset and angry are natural responses to something that you don’t want hear that you have . People can become upset because they don’t want that condition to happen to or occur to them but it has and then this would also become an angry response because has it happened to specifically that person and not someone else. Being anxious and scared can also be an emotional response to a condition with a poor prognosis because the person might feel alone and isolated and might feel like they are going through everything alone. It is the job of nurses to help the patient understand that they are not alone and there is a complete support team waiting to aid them back to health. Conditions such as depression can occur to patients who have a poor prognosis. A survey from cancer patients showed that lower levels of depression occur when the health care professional discusses the severity of the situation and gives the patient answers that they need such as life expectancy and how the condition could affect them (P. E. Schofield, 2015). Emotional and cognitive reactions are also similar in that they both regard the mental state of the
Working as an oncology nurse has been a life changing experience. I have grown not only as a nurse, but also as a person. My eyes have been opened to the value of life, and not just life itself, but the precious thing that is a healthy life. I cannot count the number of patients from the beginning of my nursing career until now that have told me, “Well, I just didn’t think my symptoms were a big deal” or “The doctor told me I needed additional tests but it didn’t seem important at the time and I didn’t have any money”. The lack of patient education and provider follow-up in situations such as these is disheartening to observe. Experiences I have had with patients combined with their life stories have fueled my desire to become a family nurse
This helps ensure an open line of communication between patient, family, and medical staff which allows for efficient information passing between interdisciplinary teams (Bamm & Rosenbaum, 2008). This communication allows the nursing staff an opportunity to also educate and counsel the family members as needed to prepare them for caring for the patient (Bamm & Rosenbaum, 2008). The value of viewing the patient in context of family from the nursing perspective is the fact that the whole patient is treated by taking into consideration the family environment and it 's affect on the
Depression can be a scary word in today’s society, not many people know how to react or respond to someone who is depressed. With a lot of support available within communities, depression still remains complicated for people to understand. As a result of this, people try various ways and approaches and are not successful.
When it comes to a bad diagnosis it is often difficult for doctors to tell their patients this devastating news. The doctor will likely hold back from telling the patient the whole truth about their health because they believe the patient will become depressed. However, Schwartz argues that telling the patient the whole truth about their illness will cause depression and anxiety, but rather telling the patient the whole truth will empower and motivate the patient to make the most of their days. Many doctors will often also prescribe or offer treatment that will likely not help their health, but the doctors do so to make patients feel as though their may be a solution to the problem as they are unaware to the limited number of days they may have left. In comparison, people who are aware there is no cure to their diagnosis and many choose to live their last days not in the hospital or pain free from medications without a treatment holding them back. They can choose to live their last days with their family and will have more time and awareness to handle a will. Schwartz argues the importance of telling patients the truth about their diagnosis and communicating the person’s likely amount of time left as it will affect how the patient chooses to live their limited
... this type of knowledge the nurse understood that her patient has a lack of social support and probably depressed. She encouraged Miss. Z to have a positive attitude to her life and current illness. The patient’s knowledge allowed me to understand that the client is having a difficult period in her life. She definitely needs a social worker and a support group to get through this challenging period. In the future I would like to observe more closely how this patient will respond to social worker’s help.
Patients can find great comfort in knowing they are not the only ones going through such a horrible experience. In an environment of people with something in common, everyone is much more likely to open up and share their innermost feelings and fears.
In spite of what she has been faced with, she has always had a positive attitude and outlook. She is a woman of strong faith, which I believe has played a big part in getting her through the challenges she has faced. Chronic illness not only affects the patient, but all members of the family as well. For her, it has been a challenge with the expense it has incurred for her. She has health insurance, but some of the medications that she is on are very expensive. In the beginning of her illness, it placed more of a financial strain on her. She was divorced and did not have the best health insurance coverage to begin with. She remarried a couple of years ago and now has better health care insurance through her husband. Not being able to pay for your health care during a difficult time is very hard to deal with. As the nurse, we can offer referrals to agencies that may be able to offer some assistance. Psychosocial care should be incorporated into the routine care of patients with cancer (Jacobsen & Wagner, 2012). Dealing with a chronic illness can also have emotional effects on the patient, as well as other family members. Depression is a commonly incurred condition that coincides with cancer, which can lead to other health and social issues. It is of great importance to provide emotional support to the patient and their family members. As the nurse, we can offer support groups to the patient and
During my career as a registered nurse I have had the privilege of caring for my patients at the bedside and meeting their needs holistically. Additionally, the safety of my patients is one of the most important aspects of my current role. The experience of advocating for my patients during my nursing career has taught me to place my patient’s health and wellbeing first. The second most important aspect of nursing that I have learned during my career is how to meet my patient’s needs as a whole, not just physically but also emotionally and psychologically applying the holistic approach to each patient. I believe that the patient’s needs
Depression is an illness within itself that affects the “whole body”. (Staywell,1998) The body, feelings, thoughts, and behavior are all immensely altered when someone is depressed. It is not a sign of personal weakness, or a condition that can be wished or willed away. For some people depression is just temporary, but for others it can last for weeks, months and even years.
Steindorf is thankful that her doctor recognized that she was experiencing psychosocial late effects, but believes other cancer survivors and their doctors don’t pinpoint the problem soon enough.
...to communicate with your patient in order for them to be updated with their family’s sickness. And also have compassion towards them. You are likely to see a lot of injuries and scenarios play out among patients that have been admitted to the hospital. There are many achievements in this field that you may accomplish. And priorities that you have to deal with. For instants your time you have to adjust your schedule.
The primary reason why I’ve come to this view. Each patient diagnosed with a prolonged terminal illness has a unique response to their medical situation based on many factors such as; support
Dr. Merle Mishel is an American, nursing theorist who is accredited with the creation of the uncertainty in illness theory and measurement scale. She holds both a master 's degree in psychiatric nursing and a PhD in social psychology. She has accrued many distinguished awards and honors for her works showcasing her expertise in dealing with psychosocial responses to cancer and chronic illness and also the best interventions to manage the hardship and stress that can accompany uncertainty when it comes to illness. Dr. Mishel, currently she holds a position at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing as a Kenan Professor of Nursing, where she continues her teachings, research and advocating of cancer patients and those with
Furthermore, people should understand that moods matter, not just to mental health, but to physical health as well. If someone is suffering from emotional illness such as depression or anxiety, they should seek treatment, since evidence is mounting that these conditions can lead to physical illness and a shorter life. Bibliography Books: Martin, P. (1997). The 'Secon The Healing Mind.
This is when the physician can learn the most about the patient’s personality and environmental influences. It is important for the doctor to be attentive and take good notes. The doctor explores in great detail the time of the ailments and the severity. The physician inquires about the patient’s past health and any family history that is of relevance. The physician then checks the accuracy of all the data and details collected to date and informs the patient of the next step in the process, the diagnosis.