Essay on End-of-Life Preparedness: Nursing Advance Directives & Public Awareness

Introduction

End-of-life is a concept that requires soberness in making a shared decision as well as communication concerning the preparedness of an individual concerning their time to die. Nobody wants to predict their death hence the concept of death preparedness portrait difficulties in elaborating defenses as well as public consciousness on the view of death acceptance defensive orientation as well as death aptitudes (McLeodSordjan, 2014). Advance directive in nursing is an aspect that requires a competent practitioner to give or express their wishes in a circumstance that arises on a patient’s critical condition. There are no apparent labels but the most competent practitioner takes charge of situations that require ethical decision making. The purpose uses of the concept, a model case that demonstrates all the defining attributes, identification of antecedents, and consequences of the death preparedness will be communicated extensively to derive a rational and a conclusion with regards to concept analysis on death preparedness.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Concept Analysis Description

The Purpose and Aim of the Analysis

The primary aim of this concept analysis is to determine the idea of birth preparedness in terms of the understanding of an end to life the communication associated with the concept of analyzing once end-of-life as well as the shared decision about the idea.

The Uses of the Concept

Awareness of once and to life enhances the preparedness of an individual with regards to whatever they need to be doing, as evidenced by an aspect of the implemented plan and the appraisal of attitudes regarding mortality presidents and improved quality of dignity at once end of life (McLeodSordjan, 2014). It is also relevant to want to know the day that they will die as an approach to get prepared and to focus on an advance directive in planning and acceptance of palliation whenever they are facing a chronic health condition (Kim et al., 2017). Facilitated communication is also vital in enhancing theoretical definition and preparedness for an end to life.

Transferability

The concept can be applied in euthanasia. An individual can sign for a reason why their life needs to be ended due to health complications. In such scenarios, an advocate can be incorporated alongside a surrogate to foresee the signing of the euthanasia.

Concept Appraisal

The Defining Attributes

Walker and Avant's method was used to enhancing the reductive approach in distinguishing the defining attributes associated with death preparedness and the relevance that it contributes to people. By definition, death attitudes are vital variables in considering patient care and enhancing communication about end-of-life (McLeodSordjan, 2014). It also improves their preferences when they experience fear and city and fails to accept the defining moments they are supposed to die (Schmied & Borjesson, 2014). Acceptance to die is conceptualized any three distinct definitions that include:

• Acceptance for neutral death or facing death rationally in terms of an inevitable end of each individual's life.
• Accepting death in terms of a gateway to a better life or an afterlife.
• Choosing death as a better alternative or escaping acceptance too painful existence.

In that manner, the purpose of the concept analysis is to establish a clear definition of death preparedness by providing descriptions of connections to the related aspects and principles which suggest future implications for nursing practice and research. Death preparedness denotes a concept or a phrase that involves a multitude of meanings associated with the context of an end of life (Barry et al., 2002; McLeodSordjan, 2014). Several similar names are associated with death preparedness, including inclination, willingness, address, provision, and promptness.

Model Case

It involves a male patient identified as A. The patient has a 30-year smoking history, and he has a 30-pound weight loss. He is currently experiencing chest pains due to a that have been malignant. The patient contemplated his mortality after consenting for a biopsy of the lesion. The practitioner who was attending to him reviewed a diagnosis associated with a non-small cell carcinoma. The patient desires all possible aggressive treatment, which can also include radiation and chemotherapy. He has been readmitted to the hospital, and his health status is deteriorating, making it difficult to predict survival. The patient acknowledges his death. A thorough analysis was done to determine his attitudes towards dying as well as the cultural preferences which align with current health beliefs. He has currently transitioned to accept his death, and he is now weighing his options with regards to death prepared nurses (McLeodSordjan, 2014). He, therefore, chose comfort care as the only measure to reduce him of the challenges. The nurse advised him to incorporate his girlfriend as the sole decision-maker or surrogate decision-maker. He writes down the wishes with regards to medical orders associated with life-sustaining medications. The patient contemplated his death after the discussion with the nurses and hiring an EOL health plan with his awareness to accept death.

The Antecedents and Consequences

The causes of acceptance of an end of life are the pain that one experiences when undergoing medication and weather; the elements being treated does not have a definite cure. In the model case, the patient's life and practices made him develop the carcinoma (Garrison et al., 2020). Currently, the patient is unable to survive and is experiencing extreme pain. Yet, there is no proper treatment for the condition as it is not treatable, and it's only receiving medications to relieve his pain. In addition to accepting death and to consider his girlfriend to be a surrogate decision-maker is part of the solution of the paining situation. The consequences of acceptance to die is emotional outbursts to his girlfriends and other people who are close to him. It is also an aspect that affects the cultural beliefs about death and the reasons that can let an individual die (Garrison et al., 2020).

Empirical References

According to Johnson et al. (2011), surrogates need to be close members of the patient battling a chronic health condition. A surrogate should also be an intimate partner who can offer the patient emotional support through kissing and curdling them. Since deciding on an end of life is not an easy thing and an acceptable aspect, a surrogate decision-maker should portray that they support the decision as a way to solve the paining situation ethically (Garrison et al., 2020). There should be an aspect that demonstrates that the actions of the surrogate align with value-laden life support.

References

Barry, L. C., Kasl, S. V., & Prigerson, H. G. (2002). Psychiatric disorders among bereaved persons: the role of perceived circumstances of death and preparedness for death. The American Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry, 10(4), 447-457. https://www.researchgate.net.pdf

Garrison Jr, L. P., Zamora, B., Li, M., & Towse, A. (2020). Augmenting cost-effectiveness analysis for uncertainty: The implications for value assessment—rationale and empirical support. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy, 26(4), 400-406. https://www.jmcp.org/doi/pdf/10.18553/jmcp.2020.26.4.400

Johnson, S. K., Bautista, C. A., Hong, S. Y., Weissfeld, L., & White, D. B. (2011). An empirical study of surrogates' preferred level of control over value-laden life support decisions in intensive care units. American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 183(7), 915-921. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1164/rccm.201008-1214OC

Kim, Y., Carver, C. S., Spiegel, D., Mitchell, H. R., & Cannady, R. S. (2017). Role of family caregivers' selfperceived preparedness for the death of the cancer patient in longterm adjustment to bereavement. Psychooncology, 26(4), 484-492. DOI: 10.1002/pon.4042

McLeodSordjan, R. (2014). Death preparedness: A concept analysis. Journal of advanced nursing, 70(5), 1008-1019. doi: 10.1111/jan.12252

Schmied, C., & Borjesson, M. (2014). Sudden cardiac death in athletes. Journal of internal medicine, 275(2), 93-103. doi: 10.1111/joim.12184