Final answer:
The focus of nursing care for a resident expected to die in a few days should be on ensuring their comfort. This includes pain management, emotional support, and adapting routine care to meet the dying individual's needs, reflecting hospice care's principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Five Stages of Grief
The five stages of grief, as described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. During the denial phase, an individual might refuse to acknowledge the reality of the situation, thinking "I feel fine" or "This isn't happening to me." In the anger stage, a person may feel frustrated and resentful, questioning "Why me?" The bargaining stage often involves trying to negotiate for more time or a way to avoid the inevitable. While experiencing depression, the individual might feel a profound sense of sadness and hopelessness. Finally, in the acceptance stage, there is a coming to terms with mortality and finding peace in the reality of the situation.
Purpose of Hospice Care
The main purpose of hospice care is to provide compassionate care and improve the quality of life for individuals who are in the terminal phases of an illness. Hospice care focuses on pain management and symptom relief, rather than cure-oriented treatments, ensuring a dignified and peaceful end-of-life experience, ideally in a familiar and comfortable setting such as the person's home.
Nursing Care Focus for Imminent Death
In the case of a patient with cancer expected to die within a few days, nursing care should prioritize providing for the resident's comfort. This might include managing pain, addressing physical needs, providing emotional support, and ensuring that the individual is able to spend this time as peacefully as possible. While maintaining routines can offer a sense of normalcy, adjustments may be needed based on the resident's wishes and comfort level.