T.H. wants to know whether he "has to be put on a breathing machine." What factors will you
take into consideration when deciding what to tell him?
What will be an ideal response?
Like all ALS patients, at some point T.H. will require respiratory support and will eventually face the
difficult choice of deciding whether he will accept mechanical ventilation. The nurse must clearly
communicate the inevitability of complete dependency on mechanical ventilation. Although
mechanical ventilation will enable the patient to breathe and prolong survival, it does not alter
progression of the disease. For this reason, many patients elect not to be placed on a mechanical
ventilator. Encourage patients to discuss this with family and friends and to seek input from ALS
support groups. Encourage patients to complete advance directives to indicate their desires for
mechanical ventilation and other life-sustaining treatments. Reassess his plans periodically. Patients
might change their minds based on their illness experience, changes in their subjective appreciation
of their quality of life, or changes in their evaluation of the benefits and burdens of life-sustaining
measures as they come to terms with the imminence of death.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following statements made by the client indicates an understanding of the management of hiatal hernia?
A. "I will lie flat for 30 minutes after each meal." B. "I will remain upright for several hours after each meal." C. "I will have my blood count done in 2 weeks to check for anemia." D. "I will sleep at night lying on my left side to prevent nighttime reflux."
Plasma, the liquid portion of blood, contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
What are typical findings on breast palpation of a woman diagnosed with simple fibroadenoma?
a. Painful, round, movable, and fluid-filled mass b. Painless, movable, hard, and irregular mass c. Smooth, solid, mobile, and well-circumscribed mass d. Smooth, nonmovable, irregular, and soft mass
An older adult patient residing at an adult assisted living facility complains of hearing and visual disturbances. A nurse must be alert to the effects of sensory deprivation that are associated with:
A. stable affect. B. altered perception. C. improved task completion. D. increased need for social interaction.