Death and Dying

Submit your answers as a short paper to the dropbox. Ensure there is a minimum of two scholarly sources to support your work. Always construct as an academic paper using APA 7th edition. Title page, level one heading on second page (title of your paper), body, conclusion. Reference page. (See APA 7th edition formatted paper in the APA folder). Nursing Case Study: End-of-Life Care and the Dying Process Patient Profile Name: Mr. James Carter Age: 72 Diagnosis: End-stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Code Status: Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Living Situation: Lives with spouse of 45 years Spiritual Beliefs: Christian, values prayer and pastoral visits Clinical Scenario Mr. Carter was admitted to the medical-surgical unit with worsening shortness of breath, fatigue, and anxiety. Despite aggressive medical treatment over the past year, his condition has continued to decline. His pulmonologist and cardiologist have determined that he is no longer responding to curative treatments. After a family meeting with the healthcare team, Mr. Carter chose comfort-focused care and was placed on hospice services. His primary goal is to remain comfortable and spend meaningful time with his family. Over the next several days, Mr. Carter becomes increasingly weak and less responsive. His appetite decreases, and he sleeps most of the day. He occasionally expresses fear about leaving my wife alone and asks staff if he is dying. His wife remains at the bedside but appears exhausted and emotionally overwhelmed. She expresses guilt about agreeing to hospice care and worries she is giving up on her husband. As his nurse, you are assigned to care for Mr. Carter during his final days. Learning Objectives Recognize physical, emotional, and spiritual signs of active dying Demonstrate therapeutic communication with dying patients and families Apply ethical and legal principles in end-of-life care Provide holistic, compassionate nursing care Student Role You are the primary nursing student assigned to Mr. Carter under the supervision of a registered nurse. You assist with symptom management, emotional support, and family education. Self-Reflection Questions Emotional Awareness How did caring for Mr. Carter make you feel personally and professionally? What emotions did you experience, and how did they affect your interactions with him and his wife? Communication and Presence How would you respond when Mr. Carter asks, Am I dying? What words, tone, and nonverbal behaviors would you use to support him? Ethical and Professional Responsibility How do you reconcile providing comfort-focused care with the desire to save a patient? What ethical principles guide your actions in this situation? Personal Growth and Coping After participating in end-of-life care, what strategies would you use to process grief and prevent compassion fatigue? How will this experience shape your future nursing practice?