Palliative Care Nursing Introduction

Palliative care is a type of healthcare that is usually focussed in reducing the pain and severity of the disease symptoms.  This makes palliative care a significant aspect to the patient and their families as it leads them to enjoy life easily without suffering until the time of their death. Palliative care is thus critical to these patients as it helps them reduce the suffering and pain brought about by their condition (Nunn, 2014).  This paper analyses two high priority palliative care strategies for the patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (Gardiner et al., 2010).    The incorporation of appropriate high priority palliative care nursing strategies is essential in symptoms management through early identification and assessment and treatment of the pain among other physical and psychological issues that the patient by be undergoing. The following report thus focusses two palliative care nursing strategies namely; psychological support and management of psychological problems and relieving and management of shortness of breath during care.

1. Psychological support and management of psychological problems

Psychological support and management of psychological problems are among the high priority nursing strategy for patients suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).  During the moment of care, a patient with COPD is bound to experience moments of anxiety and depression due to their condition, which might slow down the process of nursing care and management of the condition (Gardiner et al., 2010). As a palliative patient, some of the psychological problems that he will suffer in repeated incidences will be anxiety and depression which can be complicated due to several risk factors associated with biochemical alterations and symptomatology.  Other factors related to anxiety and depression in this patient will be associated with increased mortality, lengthy stays in palliative care, exacerbation rats and the decrease in the quality of life as the patient continue to lose several body functions (Jeffrey, 2018).  During nursing care, it is essential for the nurse to recognize some of the symptoms to come up with a better strategy in assisting the patient in coping with the situation.

In any case, there will be no possible consensus on the right approach to psychological screening as to affirm that the patient is suffering from anxiety and depression associated with COPD.  During the nursing care, however, the nurse will help the patient to practice relaxation through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the nurse can also assist the patient in doing some things for himself like walking to the toilet, taking medication and simple tasks like taking meals and medicine at the required time (Jeffrey, 2018).  When the nurse can administer the proper COPD care for a patient with anxiety and depression, it can have a significant impact on the whole palliative care process for the patient. Other studies have affirmed the importance of psychological intervention among COPD patient in palliative care. 

The best nursing strategy here will be to conduct interpersonal therapy sessions with the patient which will help them to improve their mood through interpersonal relationships. The nurse can show the patient that he can count on their care and support (Bowen, 2014). The main focus here would be to change the patient's thoughts, feelings, and fear about their condition though increase social support and increasing interpersonal function. The nurse needs always to review the patterns of relationship associated with the patient within the nursing care and family; the nurse will then weight the capacity for intimacy in the current relationship. It is also important that during this interpersonal relationship, the nurse discusses patient’s treatment plan, what works for them and what does not and what can be done by the nurse to makes the patient is comfortable (Bowen, 2014).

The overall focus will be to ensure the patient gains independence while under care and is free to negotiate the support plans and how the patient family can participate in the continued care process. When psychological and management of psychological issues is done properly, the patient will be able to deal with events that trigger anxiety and depression, effectively communicate his or her condition and learn to solve problems that are specific to his condition. 

1. relieving and Management of shortness of breathe

Relieving and management of shortness of breath is another high priority strategy for a patient with COPD under palliative care which requires a thorough assessment and measurement of various observations so that the nurse is in a position to understand how the pati