Question

How do you provide a good nursing management/ end of life care on a 78 years old elderly female diagnosed with end stage congestive heart failure?

Answer 1

Answer :

End stage congestive heart failure :

When heart muscles became weak and there is no longer proper blood pumping may leads to overload and failure may taken place.

It includes dyspnea, chronic cough, wheezing, edema, loss of appetite, tachycardia, impaired thinking ect.

End of life care and good nursing management :

It is also known as hospice and palliative care :

* symptomatic and supportive care should be provide like,

* provide comfortable position that is cardiac position or Fowler position with the support of backrest.

* provide saft diet in sitting position.

* provide psychological support.

* administer oxygen through nasal cannula to maintain adequate saturation levels.

* give nebulization to decrease the cough and wheezing sounds.

* advise the family members to provide all medications what ever advised by doctor.

* if he is in hospital if nasogastric tube is there provide feedings with hygienically.

* if he is bedridden change position second hourly and provide air beds or alpha beds.

* in home means assist the patients in daily living activities because fatigue is one of the big problem.

* continueous observation is there to maintain or worsening of renal function.

* there will be confusion and mood depression due to low oxygen supply so that provide adequate ventilation.

* to reduce constipation high fiber diet should be given.

* patient may have continence problem so use the urinary catheters and maintain hygienic techniques.

* to relieve pain and edema of legs elevate the legs and provide comfortable position.