Critical illness often results in family conflicts. Which scenario is most likely to result in the greatest conflict?
a. A 21-year-old college student of divorced parents hospitalized with multiple trauma. She resides with her mother. The parents are amicable with each other and have similar values. The father blames the daughter's boyfriend for causing the accident.
b. A 36-year-old male admitted for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. He has been living with his 34-year-old girlfriend for 8 years, and they have a 4-year-old daughter. He does not have written advance directives. His parents arrive from out-of-state and are asked to make decisions about his health care. He has not seen them in over a year.
c. A 58-year-old male admitted for coronary artery bypass surgery. He has been living with his same-sex partner for 20 years in a committed relationship. He has designated his sister, a registered nurse, as his healthcare proxy in a written advance directive.
d. A 78-year-old female admitted with gastrointestinal bleeding. Her hemoglobin is decreasing to a critical level. She is a Jehovah's Witness and refuses the treatment of a blood transfusion. She is capable of making her own decisions and has a clearly written advance directive declining any transfusions. Her son is upset with her and tells her she is "committing suicide."
B
Each of these situations may result in family conflict. The situation with the unmarried couple without written advance directives results in the distant parents being legally responsible for his healthcare decisions. Because of his long-standing commitment with his partner, and lack of recent contact with his parents, this scenario is likely to cause the most conflict. The parents may make decisions based on their wishes, as they may not be knowledgeable of the patient's wishes. The supportive parents of the college student may create conflict with the boyfriend, but their ongoing friendship and shared values will assist in reducing conflict. The male admitted for bypass surgery, although in a same-sex relationship, has clearly identified who he wants to make healthcare decisions for him. The elderly female may have conflict with her son; however, she is capable of making her own decisions and has written advance directives to support her decisions.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following terms would likely be used only by qualitative researchers, as opposed to quantitative researchers, to refer to people who participate in a study?
A) Informants B) Study participants C) Subjects D) Investigators
Technology tools have the capability to assist in the creation of consumer-centric health care information
Which of the following describe how health care information can be specifically customized or tailored for each individual patient? Select all that apply. 1. Data are collected from individual consumers regarding their health care characteristics and behaviors and a health profile is created. 2. Health care information containing the best-evidence practices must be available in an electronically retrievable format. 3. Information technology allows the patients records to be viewed by anyone with a username and password. 4. A process is established for easily sending the message (practitioner) and receiving the message (consumer) in a way that is clear to each individual. 5. A set of decision-making rules created from the information collected from the consumer is used to craft tailored messages to fit the consumer's specific needs.
Which of the following medications is administered in gel form?
A. Fentanyl B. Nitroglycerin C. Oral glucose D. Activated charcoal
What is your priority nursing responsibility during the procedure?
a. Reorienting K.L. as needed b. Monitoring K.L.'s IV fluid intake c. Assessing K.L.'s VS and oxygen saturation d. Documenting K.L.'s response to the procedures