By: Jazzle Anne
Magdaug, RN
Death is an eminent thing, we all know of that
reality for every human and yet, it is one sensitive topic that we always try
to avoid. (Mcbride, Stanford Geriatric education center. Abaquin's Prepare Me
Theory gives us a clearer picture on our role as nurse to cancer patients and
their relatives. Our role as a nurse is not limited to bedside nursing care but
involves a holistic approach in the provision of care. With our overwhelming
tasks as a nurse of terminally ill patients which we commonly call
"toxic", we sometimes forget the thought that our patients are also
spiritual and emotional beings. Sometimes the emotional and spiritual care are
best measure we can provide when all physical measures at hand are already not
enough to give comfort to our patient. Studies have shown that having the
capacity to practice one’s faith can be a measure of wellness (Valencia-Go,
1989). Prayer and spiritual counselling can be a part of a treatment plan with
assistance from a traditional healer or a clergy (Tompar-Tiu &
Sustento-Seneriches, 1995).
Filipinos are known to be very sensitive to
other people's feelings and emotions. We give high value on maintaining smooth
interpersonal relationships with other people we call "kapwa", and
that is defined as having shared identity and interacting on equal basis with a
fellow human being. (Agoncillo & Guerrero, 1987; Enriquez, 1994). The value
of caring is something innate to us and is a complex skill that is learned
throughout the developmental stages of the Filipino personality (Enriquez,
1994). However, growing in a culture where sensitive issues like death and
dying are difficult to talk about somehow creates a wall for us nurses to give
the holistic care that our patients and their relatives really need especially
in dealing with end-of life issues like Cancer ( Mcbride). Filipinos are said
to be sensitive to attacks on their own self-esteem and cultivate a sensitivity
to the self-esteem of others as well. Anything that might hurt another's self-esteem
is to be avoided or else one risks terminating the relationship. One who is
insensitive to others is said to lack a sense of shame and embarrassment, the
principal sanction against improper behavior.
I remember when I was a on my first year as a
nurse, I handled a patient on her end-stage of brain cancer. I saw how the
patient deteriorated from head to toe with each passing day. Every time I would
go inside the patient's room and see sadness and hopelessness in the eyes of
the patient's family, I did not know how to react so I would choose to remain
silent, get busy with nursing stuffs and just let my eyes express my care and
support for them. I guess this is one of the dilemmas of most nurses especially
those who are just starting on their real bedside care. Lots of questions has
caused me to become guarded in giving care to my patients--"What do I need
to say to my patient?", " I want to comfort them but I do not how to
do it the right way", "Is it okay to pray for and with my patient or
will doing it would mean a different interpretation for my patient and her
relatives?", "How to say that everything will be okay when things are
really not doing okay?", "When a patient dies, how will I express my
condolences to their relatives?", "How will I comfort them?",
"Would expressing my care would mean I'm going beyond
professional-matter-of-fact professional client-nurse relationship where I
should be?", and "what if I can't contain my tears?".
On my third year as a nurse, I welcomed the new year on a night shift caring for a terminally ill intubated patient in the ICU without any relative with her on that special occasion. It felt awkward at first, but I took the courage to ask my patient if she wants me to pray for her. I just held her hand and we prayed together. After that simple prayer, I have seen and felt the comfort and peace she received through the tears that welled in her eyes and in the way she tightly held my hand.
It is not easy to overcome our values and culture on how we deal with issues on caring for cancer patients but through Dr. Abaquin's Prepare Me Theory, we are able to see beyond the typical nursing care and that is caring in a holistic approach involving every aspect of a patient-- physically, spiritually and emotionally. It may feel awkward at first but simple acts of care beyond what we could learn from books are the things that would mean more for cancer or terminally ill patients in times like this. Through this I realized that more than the physical comfort we could provide as nurses, simple measures such as silence, taking time to listen, a tap on the back, gently holding their hands, sharing stories on hope and faith, and connecting them to God could make them feel that we truly care. More when we involve their love ones and relatives in providing this holistic care. I believe this defines what nursing care is--we work from the heart and that is one characteristic that sets us apart as nurses.
On my third year as a nurse, I welcomed the new year on a night shift caring for a terminally ill intubated patient in the ICU without any relative with her on that special occasion. It felt awkward at first, but I took the courage to ask my patient if she wants me to pray for her. I just held her hand and we prayed together. After that simple prayer, I have seen and felt the comfort and peace she received through the tears that welled in her eyes and in the way she tightly held my hand.
It is not easy to overcome our values and culture on how we deal with issues on caring for cancer patients but through Dr. Abaquin's Prepare Me Theory, we are able to see beyond the typical nursing care and that is caring in a holistic approach involving every aspect of a patient-- physically, spiritually and emotionally. It may feel awkward at first but simple acts of care beyond what we could learn from books are the things that would mean more for cancer or terminally ill patients in times like this. Through this I realized that more than the physical comfort we could provide as nurses, simple measures such as silence, taking time to listen, a tap on the back, gently holding their hands, sharing stories on hope and faith, and connecting them to God could make them feel that we truly care. More when we involve their love ones and relatives in providing this holistic care. I believe this defines what nursing care is--we work from the heart and that is one characteristic that sets us apart as nurses.
REFERENCES:
Agoncillo, T., & Guerrero, M. (1987). History of the Filipino people. Quezon City, Philippines: Garcia Publishing Company.
Agoncillo, T., & Guerrero, M. (1987). History of the Filipino people. Quezon City, Philippines: Garcia Publishing Company.
Enriquez, V. (1994). From colonial to
liberation psychology: The Philippine experience. Maila, Philippines: De La
Salle University Press.
A Country Study: Philippines from The Library
of Congress
No comments:
Post a Comment