PHI 413 Week 4 Dealing with Death in Nursing Environment

DQ1

1 posts

Re: Topic 4 DQ 1

Death and dying is like a normal and natural part of nursing which one encounters almost on a weekly or monthly basis depending on how often the nurse works or where they work. This does not necessarily mean it becomes easy to witness or engage with. Although nurses may witness death and dying frequently, some nurses find it easier to process and accept death while others on their part still face challenges in their grieving process. Nursing care of humans can be complex so too is facing death and dying because it involves different people, patients, professionals with varying cultures, beliefs, habits, rites and spirituality. These differences influence how each person gives meaning to end of life issues as well as different coping mechanisms (Teixeira Prado, Leite, Silva, Johanson da Silva, & Aparecida Barbosa de Castro, 2018). PHI 413 Week 4 Dealing with Death in Nursing Environment

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Working in the long-term care industry, has exposed me to death and dying more than any other time in my life. Because I work with an older population, the issue of death has to be dealt with monthly or sometimes more frequently as is the case with the current pandemic. Death has not become easier to deal with or even harder as I have come to accept the fact that it is a natural process and part of the nursing career. In other words, each circumstance surrounding a person’s death and the bond the nurse has with the patients contributes to the grief or how well the nurse processes a death.

Teixeira Prado, R., Leite, J. L., Silva, Í. R., Johanson da Silva, L., & Aparecida Barbosa de Castro, E. (2018). The process of dying/death: intervening conditions to the nursing care management. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71(4), 2005–2013. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0173

DQ2

4 posts

Re: Topic 4 DQ 1

I work in the nursery ICU in my hospital. Our premature infant range from 23 weeks gestation to normal newborns with abnormalities. I have witnessed deaths of these patients a handful of times. I have witnessed a newly delivered 27 weeker that was coded for over an hour and finally pronounced deceased after every round of epinephrine was given and multiple rounds of cpr. I have witnessed life support withdrawn from a 41 weeker with none viable abnormalities in the arms of the parents. I have witnessed a healthy 32 weeker that was a month old suddenly code and die within 30 minutes, while we were on the phone with the parents telling them they needed to get to the hospital immediately. I was saddened for all of these and my heart was broken for the parents, but I never completely fell apart and cried. Then again, it was never any of my patients that I was taking care of that passed. I find myself excepting of all these deaths and I feel it is because we gave these infant the best possible chance of life…and sometimes I even wonder if because these beings have only begun their lives, that they never really “developed” into and individual that maybe I’m not so torn apart, only saddened that they never got to live but devastated they died. I do not know how I would be with adult patients. I have never worked with adults. So far, dealing with death in my unit has been relatively adaptable. I am heart broken for the parents. But I am not a parent myself. Perhaps if I was a parent my view on these infant deaths would be different. I do believe there is life after death and I do believe there is a heaven and that all these infant go there. I believe that in death we are able to reunite with family members we have lost and therefore I believe there is some comfort in that, and maybe that’s why I have been able to adjust to these passings.

DQ3

1 posts

Re: Topic 4 DQ 2

Death often times is looked at as meaningless for some and sometimes even a major source of anxiety for oneself and family, but it can also be a form of comfort and resurrection for others. People have different beliefs and views when it comes to death and it is important that their views are validated, but it is often important to educate as well. Individual beliefs in souls of a person and the essence of their physical being varies from culture to culture. Just as there are beliefs and values on living there are beliefs and views on death (GCU, 2020).

In the biblical narrative, all death, pain and sickness is ultimately from the sin of all humans to God, and therefore with spiritual death, we are alienated from God, and physical death is the consequence of sin (GCU, 2020). It is hard for me to understand and grasp this scenario. I understand the creation and Adam and Eve and the Sin, but still difficult for me to understand why sickness and dying is the result of sin.

Euthanasia is the process of ending ones life by means of a physician (Frey, 2018) before pain and suffering takes over. It is mainly used for those that have no hope of recovering and death is ultimately in view. It has many forms of administration. The Christian worldview does not believe in euthanasia because it is looked at as killing an innocent person and viewed as a “distortion of a good death” even with pain and suffering (GCU, 2020). Suicide is viewed the same, but is done by the person taking their own life and not by use of a physican (Frey, 2018). It is viewed as failure to “acknowledge the sovereignty of God over life, death, and even suffering at the end of life.” God is to determine when ones dies. Suicide and euthanasia is viewed to take this away and become a sin (GCU, 2020).

Even though I was raised Catholic and to abide by this, being in nursing and seeing pain and suffering has changed my mind. I believe that as evolved humans we are educated enough and understanding of the disease process and dying, that we are able to make our own decision on when our life should end…but only when it comes to end of life. I do not agree with suicide in many actions where you see in public with bullying and killing oneself because you killed someone. Those I believe are sins and are not in the same category. So I would have to say I agree with physician assisted euthanasia. We have every right to decide when we want to go with dignity and grace, and I feel that knowing one is ultimately going to die from a life ending illness is a sacrifice and acknowledging the sovereignty of God.

Frey, R. J., & Blackwell, A. H. (2018). Euthanasia. In J. L. Longe (Ed.), Gale virtual reference library: The Gale encyclopedia of nursing and allied health (4th ed.). Gale. Credo Reference: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/galegnaah/euthanasia/0?institutionId=5865

Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2020). Practicing dignity: An introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/phi413v/practicing-dignity-an-introduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care/v1.1/#/home

DQ4

1 posts

Re: Topic 4 DQ 2

Physicians take an oath they will NOT give a deadly drug to anyone who asks for it. They also promise to refrain from making reference to such. This oath is meant for physicians not to participate in euthanasia or physician assisted suicide.
Euthanasia is, the act of intentionally taking a human life for the sole purpose of relieving pain and suffering. Euthanasia is categorized as active or passive. Active euthanasia is when a physician intentionally causes the death of a patient. Passive euthanasia is when a physician withholds treatment with the intent to cause death. Physician assisted suicide, PAS, is when a doctor intentionally gives someone information or drugs to commit suicide (Login, 2019).
As a human being, I understand the arguments that support euthanasia and PAS. The argument being autonomy, decreasing pain and suffering, and the belief that there really is not a difference between speeding up the death process and allowing the dying process to naturally take its course. However, as a Christian, I am unable to ignore the fact that the Bible tells us suicide is a sin and not to murder. We are made in God’s image and it is God whom gave us life and determines the number of days we will live as humans on this Earth (Job 14:5). God is the sovereign Lord who determines when we die. “We are not to usurp God’s authority (Ministry, 2019).”
References
Login. (2019). Retrieved from https://search-credoreference-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/content/entry/galegnaah/euthanasia/0?institutionId=5865
Ministry, C. (2019). What does the Bible say about euthanasia? | CARM.org. Retrieved from https://carm.org/bible-say-about-euthanasia

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DQ5

1 posts

Re: Topic 4 DQ 2

The Christian view is one in which the origins of sin and death began when Adam and Eve disobeyed Gods commands and ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. This action caused their separation from God, their suffering and imminent future physical death. Suffering and death are the result of their sin. It is also known that humans were created in the image of God and possess innate dignity given by God and must be respected and defended throughout every moment of one’s life. Therefore, suicide and euthanasia from the Christian perspective is inherently wrong (GCU 2020).

My personal belief regarding suicide is that it is wrong. People who attempt suicide are usually suffering mentally, but with help, they could one day resume a healthy life. PHI 413 Week 4 Dealing with Death in Nursing Environment

The circumstances are different when someone has a terminal illness with no hopes of ever getting better and will face meaningless and unmitigated pain. The Christian perspective does support palliative and hospice care, and in my experience, physician assisted euthanasia is not much different. If a person has a diagnosis which they know they are terminal, I believe that they have the right to choose when and how they die.

I have personally cared for a patient that was under hospice care. It was so many years ago, I do not recall the reason they were in the hospital and not the hospice house. The woman was elderly, frail, was struggling to breathe, drowning in her own secretions. She had Roxanol ordered for air hunger, and as ordered, it could be given like every 5 min. (again I don’t recall exactly). What I do remember is that I gave her all the Roxanol that I was allowed to give her for air hunger, and I am certain that I helped her to die.

I believe that as humans, we treat animals better at death than we do ourselves. Why is it humane to put a 16 yr old dog down who has lost bowel and bladder function, suffered numerous seizures, unable to walk from degenerative spine, whom cannot eat or drink, yet if it is a human, we are supposed to watch them struggle in anguish for their remaining time until God says they have suffered enough. I just don’t think so.

Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2020). Practicing dignity: An introduction to Christian values and decision making in health care. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/phi413v/practicing-dignity-an-introduction-to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care/v1.1/#/home

DQ6

1 posts

Re: Topic 4 DQ 2

As explained by Hoehner, for one to take their own life, or for another to take the life of a person is condemned in the biblical narrative (Grand Canyon University [GCU], 2020). Although, in cases of Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) or euthanasia, most times individuals mean well by ending ones suffering, according to the bible it is only God who can determine when life should end (GCU, 2020). Christianity sees the “hastening of death for any reason,” to be a distortion of a good death (GCU, 2020).

Historically, euthanasia was performed by soldiers who were wounded, a comrade would give a “death blow” to prevent the capture by an enemy, where a worse fate would usually wait (Frey & Blackwell, 2018). In ancient societies, infants would be allowed to die if born with extensive birth defects, or elderly starved as a form of voluntary euthanasia (Frey & Blackwell, 2018).

Being a woman who doesn’t necessarily hold a Christian worldview, I disagree with the stance of Christianity on euthanasia. I live in a state where PAS is allowed, and where I don’t have any first-hand experience with it, I know it is a very thorough, and extensive process. You must be of sound mind, have multiple extensive appointments with multiple physicians, and with different care professionals. This is not a hasty process and is taken extremely seriously. Reflecting on the times where men at war felt the need for their partners to take their life in fear of what awaited them by their enemies is heartbreaking, and it makes me wonder how these horrible things can happen, and be done to other people.

In the DQ question, it refers to suicide interchangeably to euthanasia. Euthanasia comes from Greek words meaning, “good death,” or is referred to as “mercy killing,” and is defined as putting one painlessly to death, or withholding medical treatments when one suffers from an incurable disease (Frey & Blackwell, 2018). Suicide is defined as injuring oneself with the intent to die (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). These words, or concepts, in my opinion, are not the same, and they are not interchangeable. Yes, during euthanasia, one’s intent is to die, but committing suicide can be done by someone without a terminal disease. Are we saying when one suffers from depression and chooses to end their life, this is euthanasia? This would mean depression is a terminal disease, which I believe to be untrue.

This is a complex topic, with a web of opinions and intertwined when religion it can get confusing, and difficult. I believe that it is not my place to choose if someone has the option to participate in euthanasia, nor is it acceptable to have anyone participate who is uncomfortable. However, I cannot say I know what it feels like to have a terminal, incurable disease, which I am thankful for; but that then gives me little leverage to make judgments on one who chooses this path.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Violence prevention. Fast facts. Retrieved from

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/fastfact.html

Frey, R. J., & Blackwell, A. H. (2018). Euthanasia. In J. L. Longe (Ed.), Gale virtual reference library: The Gale

encyclopedia of nursing and allied health (4th ed.). Gale. Credo Reference: https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?

url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/galegnaah/euthanasia/0?institutionId=5865

Grand Canyon University (Ed). (2020). Practicing dignity: An introduction to Christian values and decision

making in health care. Retrieved from https://lc.gcumedia.com/phi413v/practicing-dignity-an-introduction-

to-christian-values-and-decision-making-in-health-care/v1.1/#/home PHI 413 Week 4 Dealing with Death in Nursing Environment