Question

The parents of a child who is dying of leukemia asks a nurse about the family participating in the care of the child. What would be the best response by the nurse?

"A member of the nursing staff must provide all of the child's physical care." "This type of care is only available if your child is in a hospice facility." "You will be required to sign a release stating you are taking responsibility in case any injury occurs. "We encourage all members of the family to be as involved with the care as they are comfortable with."

Answer 1

The best response by the nurse is to encourage the family to participate in the child's care as they feel comfortable, considering the benefits of hospice care which supports patient and family involvement.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best response by the nurse to the parents of a child who is dying of leukemia and inquiring about participating in the care of their child would be, "We encourage all members of the family to be as involved with the care as they are comfortable with."

Research has shown that hospice care is beneficial for both the patient and the patient's family. It allows for emotional support, reduced burden of care, and provides a sense of increased family and social support. Hospice care emphasizes comfort and peace for terminally ill patients and often enables them to remain at home, surrounded by loved ones, which has been reported to be the preferred place of death for many people.

In contrast to the history of medical care, where death was managed within hospitals and often without informing patients of their approaching end, modern hospice care allows individuals and families to be involved in the end-of-life process, reflecting a societal shift towards a more open and participatory approach in the face of terminal illness.