Caring for a Child or Young Person with Severe Illness

Caring for a Child or Young Person with Severe Illness Introduction This assignment will reflect on and critically study an incident from a clinical setting whilst using a model of reflection. This will allow me to analyse and make sense of the incident and draw conclusions relating to personal learning outcomes. The incident will be described and analysed, followed by the process of reflection using Driscolls Reflective Model (2000) as it facilitates critical thinking and in-depth reflection which will help me to accumulate learning objectives for the future. To comply with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2015) Code of Conduct, confidentiality will be maintained therefore the individual will be known throughout as Ben. Reflection is defined as a process of explaining and expressing from our own experiences and helps to develop and improve our skills and knowledge towards becoming professional practitioners (Jasper, 2003). I have chosen to use the Driscolls Reflective Model (2000) as a guidance as it is straightforward and encourages a clear description of the situation which will allow me to look at the experience and identify how it made me feel, asking what was good and bad, and what I can learn (Sellman and Snelling 2010). Wolverson (2000) includes this as an important process for all nurses wishing to improve their practice. What? Ben was born prematurely following an emergency caesarean section, whereby he received prolonged resuscitation and suffered severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). According to Boxwell (2010), infants with severe encephalopathy have a 75% risk of dying with coma persisting, or progressing to brain death by 72 hours of life. There was a realisation that continuing treatment may be causing Ben harm in that it was unlikely to restore his health or relieve suffering. Boxwell (2010) further states that survivors of HIE carry an almost certain risk of poor neurological outcome. It is these times when consideration must be given to withholding and/or withdrawing treatment, subsequently re-orientating treatment to compassionate care. I was informed by my mentor that there would be a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting to discuss and justify the decision to withdraw treatment. I was invited into the MDT meeting by my mentor to both witness and actively participate in the discussion if I felt confident enough. The MDT consisted of two paediatricians, a paediatric registrar, the neonatal sister, and myself, a paediatric student nurse.   The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) (2004)   suggest that all members of the health care team need to feel part of the decision-making process in that their views should be listened to. At the time, I was hesitant to contribute due to my knowledge, understanding and experience surrounding the clinical and ethical matter. However, I was reassured that greater openness between disciplines will facilitate better understanding of individual roles and enhance the sense of responsibility (RCPCH, 2004). We considered what was legally permitted and required, but also at what was ethically appropriate. In considering quality of life (QOL)   determinations, it was important to refer back to the ethical foundation involved with surrogate decision making, which is the standard of best interest. Some professionals argued that Ben had no prior QOL on which to base a judgment. The Children Act (1989) provides an overall statutory framework for the provision of childrens welfare and services but makes no specific provision concerning withholding or withdrawing treatment (RCPCH, 2004). It does however state that the welfare of the child is paramount which is further supported by The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). Article 3 under this legislation states that actions affecting children must have their best interests as a primary consideration (RCPCH, 2004). The NMC (2015) framework governs the maintenance of standards of practice and professional conduct in the interests of patients, acting as a guide to ethical practice within nursing. The principle of non-maleficence is one of the hallmark principles of ethics in health care which prohibits healthcare professionals from doing any action that will result harm to the patient. Also paramount, is the goal to restore health and relieve suffering, promoting good or beneficence. In the principle of beneficence, nurses are obliged to protect, prevent harm and maintain the best interest for patients (Beauchamp Childress, 2001). Those involved needed to be conà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ dent in their ability to understand the ethical dilemmas they faced, and had to ensure they were aware of the underlying ethical principles to support their contribution to the discussion. The decision to withdraw life sustaining treatment should be made with the parents on the basis of knowledge and trust, but ultimately, the clinical team carries the responsibility for decision making, as an expression of their moral and legal duties as health care professionals. It is not uncommon for parents to feel indecisiveness, shame or guilt about the decision to palliate their neonate, particularly when the outcome of the neonates condition is uncertain (Reid et al, 2011). However, the final decision to withdraw intensive care was made with the consent from both parents, and this was clearly recorded in his clinical notes, together with a written account of the process and factors leading to the decision. So What? Parents impending the loss of their infant experience a complex emotional reaction to their situation, typically one of anticipatory grief, shock and confusion (Gardner and Dickey, 2011). They may also experience feelings of profound loss, related not only to the imminent loss of their child but also to a loss of their expectations, aspirations and role as parents (Gardner and Dickey, 2011). Parents are fundamental in the decision-making processes around neonatal palliation and as it is they who will be the most significantly affected by these decisions (Branchett and Stretton, 2012), neonatal EOL care places a particular focus on caring for parents. Developing a flexible, transparent and family-centred care plan is essential, and so that their preferences are met, parents should take a key role in this process (Williamson et al, 2008). Spence (2011) recommends that a holistic approach is taken to clarify the familys wishes, desires and needs in order to effectively advocate for infa nts. Whilst most parents wish to be involved in decisions and planning around EOL care for their baby, some may find this responsibility overwhelming (Williams et al, 2008). Despite this, we exposed the parents to a range of options which they synthesised in order to make the best decisions for their family. However, it was important for the neonatal nurse and I to realise that highly emotive situations can often cause significant deficits in parents ability to comprehend and process such information (Williams et al, 2008). As competent nurses, it is our responsibility to provide nursing care that advocates for our patients rights in life and death, showing respect and dignity towards them and the family. We advocated for Ben by protecting his rights, being attentive to his needs, ensuring comfort and protection, and by participating in the ethical discussion to ensure a collaborative perspective of ethical negotiation (Spence, 2011). The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (2015) suggests that palliative care should include comfort measures, such as kangaroo care, an ongoing assessment of pain using an appropriate pain assessment tool and written care plans to manage discomfort, pain and other distressing symptoms such as seizures using the least invasive effective route of administration. As the parents wished to be present at time of death, the neonatal nurse prepared the family for what they would observe as life-sustaining treatment was discontinued. This included informing them of gasping and other noises, colour changes, and stating that Ben may continue to breathe and have a heart rate for minutes or hours. This is an fundamental aspect of palliative care, and provides the family with the opportunity to ask questions. However, a study conducted by Ahern (2013) stated that nurses often express anxieties surrounding how to support parental grief and how to prepare them for the imminent death of their inf ant. Parental preferences were also assessed, including whom they wish present, whether they want to hold the infant, and whether they wished to participate in any rituals or memory-making activities. Although my mentor took the lead role in planning the infants EOL care, my contribution focused on memory-making activities. Although this is often nurse initiated, making memories is increasingly recognised as an aid in parental coping and grieving (Schott, Henley and Kohner, 2007). However, McGuinness, Coughlan and Power (2014) reported that rather than physical keepsakes, parents and families instead appreciated other actions and gestures that demonstrated respect for their needs, including having time alone with the infant and being encouraged and supported to provide care to their baby. I asked the parents if they would like photos to be taken, and although parents declined photography, I offered to take some to keep in the medical records in case they decided they would like them at a later date which they appreciated (Mancini et al, 2014).   Despite this, the parents were acceptant of the offer to keep items that were related to Bens care, including his wristband, blank ets and hat. Throughout planning Bens EOL care, the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship in meeting the familys needs was achieved by showing empathy, and by doing so I obtained the individuals trust, and respect. Carl Rogers (1961) has influenced the shift from a task- to a person-centred and holistic view of nursing care, with the adoption of Rogers core conditions (Bach and Grant, 2005). Rogers identified unconditional positive regard, genuineness and empathy as necessary conditions for helping someone change effectively through a good therapeutic relationship. This was   achieved through both proficient nursing knowledge and utilising interpersonal communication skills. According to Jones (2007), there is little research in nursing literature that discusses interpersonal skills, particularly in nursing education. There is also a critique that nursing education is often removed from the realities that students experience during their clinical practice (Bach and Grant, 2005). I felt confident and assured that my interpersonal skills would bring positivity throughout a very difficult time, helping them through the grieving process. I acknowledged that both parents appreciated my forward-thinking and empathy towards the current situation. Being empathetic during this situation required my ability to be understanding not only of the parents beliefs, values and ideas but also the significance that their situation had for them and their associated feelings (Greenberg, 2007). Egan (2010) identià ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ es certain non-verbal skills summarised in the acronym SOLER that can help the nurse to create the therapeutic space. I did this by sitting facing the family squarely, at a slight angle; adopting an open posture; leaning slightly forward; maintaining good eye contact, without staring and presenting a relaxed open posture. To enhance the communication through these skills, I used active-listening skills to ensure a successful interaction through techniques that facilitated the discussion. I did this by using sounds of encouragement, demonstrating that I was listening and assimilating the information provided by the parents. This was also done by summarising, paraphrasing and reflecting on the feelings and statements. Effective use of reà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ective skills can facilitate exploration, build trust, and communicate acceptance and understanding to the individual (Balzer-Riley, 2004). Geldard and Geldard (2005) state that it is often the paralinguistic elements of speech rather than what is actually said that betray true feelings and emotions. Now What? As EOL approached, Ben was extubated on the neonatal unit and transferred to the bereavement suite whereby my mentor continued to provide one-to-one care.   I was not present throughout the final palliative care phase as I wanted to respect the familys privacy. At this point, I held emotions of helplessness, sadness and anxiety, therefore I took some time to reflect on what had happened. It is important that nurses recognise and confront their own feelings toward death so that they can assist patients and families in EOL issues (Dickinson, 2007). Nurses often experience sadness and grief when dealing with the deaths of patients, and without any support, can suffer distress (Hanna and Romana, 2007). Debriefing is a beneficial intervention designed to help nurses to explore and process their experiences. Irving and Long (2001) suggest that debriefing demonstrates a significant reduction in stress and greater use of coping strategies through discussion in a reminiscent fashion to let their feelings out. Through reflection, I have come to the realisation and understanding that patient death is an integral part of nursing practice in palliative care settings. I have recognised that support from all members of the MDT have positive implications for nursing students coping with stressors associated with patient death. Furthermore, the experience helped me learn the importance of both verbal and non-verbal communication. As an aspiring nurse, I have to continuously improve my communication skills because I shall be interacting with more varied patients in the future. I have also been able to utilise my knowledge of ethical principles in relation to withdrawing treatment, thereby integrating theory into practice. Conclusion To conclude, the care that patients receive has the direct potential to improve through reflective practice. Becoming a reflective practitioner will help me to focus upon knowledge, skill and behaviours that I will need to develop for effective clinical practice. Reflection helps to make sense of complicated and difficult situations, a medium to learn from experiences and therefore improve performance and patient care. Reference List Ahern, K. (2013) What neonatal intensive care nurses need to know about neonatal palliative care. Advanced Journal of Neonatal Care. 13(2), pp. 108-14 Bach, S. and Grant, A. (2005) Communication and Interpersonal Skills for Nurses. Exeter: Learning Matters Balzer-Riley, J. (2004) Communication in Nursing. Mosby, MO: Mosby/Elsevier. Boxwell, G. (2010) Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing. 2nd Edition. New York: Routledge Branchett, K. and Stretton, J. (2012), Neonatal palliative and end of life care: What parents want from professionals, Journal of Neonatal Nursing. 18(2), pp. 40-44. Dickenson, G. E. (2007). End of life and palliative care issues in medical and nursing schools. Death Studies, 31, pp. 713-726. Driscoll, J. (2000) Practising Clinical Supervision. London: Balliere Tindall Egan, G. (2010) The Skilled Helper: A problem management and opportunity development approah to helping.9th edition. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Geldard, D. and Geldard, K. (2005) Practical Counselling Skills: An Integrative Approach. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Greenberg, L.S. (2002) Emotion-focused therapy: Coaching clients to work through feelings Washington, D.C: American Psychological Association Hanna, D.R. and Romana, M. (2007). Debriefing after a crisis. Nursing Management. 8, pp. 39-47. Irving, P. and Long, A. (2001). Critical incident stress debriefing following traumatic life experiences. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 8, pp. 307-314. Jasper M (2003). Beginning reflective practice. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Mancini, A., Uthaya, S., Beardsley, C., Wood, D. and Modi, N (2014) Practical guidance for the management of palliative care on neonatal unit. London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health McGuniess, D., Coughlan, B. and Power, S. (2014) Empty arms: supporting bereaved mothers during the immediate postnatal period. British Journal of Midwifery. 22(4), pp. 146-52. National Association of Neonatal Nurses (2015) Palliative and End-of-life Care for Newborns and Infants. Chicago: National Association of Neonatal Nurses Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2015). The Code: professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives. London: NMC Reid, S., Bredemeyer, S., van den Berg, C., Cresp, T., Martin, T., Miara, N., Coombs, S., Heaton, M., Pussell, K., and Wooderson, S. (2011) Palliative care in the neonatal nursery. Neonatal, Paediatric Child Health Nursing. 14(2), pp. 2-8 Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (2004) Withholding or Withdrawing Life Sustaining Treatment in Children: A Framework for Practice. London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Schott, J., Henley, A. and Kohner, N. (2007) Pregnancy loss and the death of a baby: guidelines for professionals. 3rd Edition. London: SANDS Sellman, D. and Snelling, P.C. (2010) Becoming a nurse: A textbook for professional practice. Harlow: Pearson Education Spence, K. (2011) Ethical advocacy based on caring: A model for neonatal and paediatric nurses. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 47, pp. 642-645 Williams, C., Munson, D., Zupancic, J. and Kirpalani, H. (2008) Supporting bereaved parents: Practical steps in providing compassionate perinatal and neonatal end-of-life care. Seminars in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine. 13(5), pp. 335-340. Wolverson, M. (2000). On reflection. Professional Practice. 3(2), pp. 31-34

Supply and Demand and Equilibrium Price

Individual Assignment #1 1. Briefly point out the faulty reasoning in each of the following situations: a. You win a free, nontransferable ticket to a Sheryl Crow concert. Since the ticket is free and it will therefore cost you nothing to go, you decide to go to the concert. b. You paid nonrefundable tuition of $3,000 to take a 15-week course. Therefore, the opportunity cost of attending class each week is $3,000 divided by 15, or $200. c. You have purchased 5 premium apples for $1. 99 a pound, but when you get home, you discover they are mushy.Since you paid top dollar for these apples, you decide you have to eat them. 2. Briefly explain why the following statements are either TRUE or FALSE: a. Even though school dormitory rooms are rationed by lottery, these rooms are still affected by economic forces. b. Because the U. S. postal service is a monopoly and Congress sets postal prices through legislation, market forces do not determine stamp prices. c. New York City government auctio ns taxi medallions that give the right to transport passengers by taxi.Because the government controls the number of medallions, market forces do not determine their price. 3. Indicate whether each of the following statements describes an increase in demand, decrease in demand, change in quantity demanded, increase in supply, decrease in supply, or change in quantity supplied in the given market. a. Store-brand soup prices are cut, reducing sales of Campbell’s soup. Market: Campbell’s soup. b. Coffee bean prices hit an 18-month low following a bountiful harvest. Market: coffee beans. c. A summer heat wave leads to higher prices for bottled water.Market: bottled water. d. Holiday clothing discounts boost clothing sales. Market: clothing. e. Apple introduces a tinier and more powerful iPod model. Market: older iPod models. f. The cost of pesticides increases, leading to a rise in the price of soy beans. Market: soy beans. 4. Given the following data for individuals, draw the market demand curve and market supply curve for CDs. Assume that these are the only individuals in the entire market. Price is per CD. |Price |$8. 00 |$8. 50 |$9. 00 |$9. 50 |$10. 00 |$10. 0 | |Quantity demanded in units per week | |Mark |3 |3 |1 |0 |0 |0 | |Lynn |8 |7 |6 |3 |2 |1 | |Jason |6 |5 |4 |3 |0 |0 | |Erin |10 |9 |7 |6 |4 |2 | |Quantity supplied in units per week | |Jeff |0 |1 |2 |3 |4 |6 | |Beth |2 |3 |3 |4 |6 |7 | |Chris |0 |1 |2 |3 |5 |6 | |Abby |1 |1 |2 |2 |3 |5 | a. What would be the equilibrium price and quantity in this market? b. Which would there be—excess demand or excess supply—at a price of $8. 00? How much? What about at a price of $10. 00? c. If the price of a CD was initially set at $9. 00 but the price was allowed to adjust, would the price rise or fall? Explain your answer. 5.State the effect of the following events on equilibrium price and quantity of the market given. a. Beetle infestation decimates tobacco crop. Market: cigars. b. The Organization for Petroleum Export Countries raises oil export quotas. Market: gasoline. c. Digital image albums become the rage among households while improved technology reduces the cost of producing digital cameras. Market: digital cameras. c. Hurricanes in the Gulf coast cause gasoline supply disruptions while the summer travel season ends. Market: gasoline. 6. The graph below shows supply and demand curves for annual medical office visits. Using this graph, answer the questions below. [pic] a.If the market were free from government regulation, what would be the equilibrium price and quantity? b. Calculate total expenditures on office visits with this equilibrium price and quantity. c. If the government subsidized office visits and required that all consumers were to pay $30 per visit no matter what the actual cost, how many visits would consumers demand? d. What payment per visit would doctors require in order to supply that quantity of visits? e. Calculate total expenditures on office visits under the condition of this $30 co-payment. f. How do total expenditures with a co-payment of $30 compare to total expenditures without government involvement? Provide a numerical answer.

Did the central character experience an epiphany in this story Free Essay Example, 1250 words

She reserves the right to despise this girl for her looks and hides her feelings under a sarcastic smile, thereby, revealing her lack of sincerity. However, Mrs. Turpin’s judgmental attitude does not target teenagers only because she also singularizes a poor white woman she called â€Å"white trash† and her sick son. She simply judges this woman through her clothing and poor language and socially discriminates against her because she believes that the woman does not attain her social status. The narrator reports her thought about the woman: â€Å"Ought to have got you a wash rag and some soap, Mrs. Turpin thought† (O’Connor 345). This statement reflects Mrs. Turpin’s state of mind as she despises the woman and ranks her inferior. She later on compares the woman’s son to her pigs: â€Å"Mrs. Turpin gave her the merest edge of her attention. ‘Our hogs are not dirty and they don’t stink, ’ she said. ‘They’re cl eaner than some children I’ve seen’† (O’Connor 345). Daring to compare an innocent child to a pig reveals Mrs. Turpin’s true character and exposes her wickedness that challenges the claims about her Christian virtue. We will write a custom essay sample on Did the central character experience an epiphany in this story or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now O’Connor’ s portrayal of Mrs. Turpin’s flaws transcends both race and ethnicity because the woman’s vice does not target any specific group but reaches out to anyone with different standards. Therefore, her criticism is directed to anybody regardless of race or ethnicity that does not meet her requirements. She clearly exposes this idea in the reflection she had about her conversation with Jesus concerning her creation. She claims to be happy with her current status and does not want to be either a â€Å"nigger† or a â€Å"white trash†: â€Å"I have only those two places so make up your mind. ‘She would have wiggled and squirmed and begged but it would have been no use and finally she would have said, ‘all right, make me a nigger then—but that don’t mean a trashy one. ’† (O’Connor 343-44). This demeaning reflection attests to the lack of consideration and respect Mrs. Turpin has for any group, and how self-centered she is. She regards her position as the best and views the others as chaotic and catastrophic. Besides, Mrs. Turpin’s negative attitude exacerbates the young college girl who realizes her boastful nature and wickedness and then makes the conscious decision to react. Thus, their silent confrontation moves a step further and becomes physical when the girl threw a book at her and then choked her. This physical assault comes as a direct consequence of her negativity and false pretense that need to be punished.

The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1519 Words

The symbolic imagery, such as goods and color, is often used by authors to suggest and help readers to understand the invisible parts of the characters, which are their personalities and so on, through the specific goods they own, or the story, which help to develop the whole plot. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses a lot of symbols in this book. Among all those symbols in it, the symbol of the green light is the strongest, due to the changes of meaning in the book and leading the plot. However, each symbolic imagery is not unique, they interact with each other. This essay will argue that, with the help of other symbols, the symbol of green light becomes the crucial symbol for us to understand The Great Gatsby. Besides, this essay will†¦show more content†¦As a representative of those who have already achieved it, the green light is not only associated with Gatsby, but also the entire society. I will discuss this in the appearance of the green light. The first appearance of the green light is at the end of Chapter 1. When Nick came back from Tom’s house, he saw Gatsby â€Å"stretched out his arm toward the dark†, and there was â€Å"nothing except a single green light†.(p.25) And after this encounter, we know the green light is from Tom’s house, where Daisy lives. As the result of this, the green light for Gatsby must be related to Daisy in somehow, but not just Daisy herself. For Gatsby, the green light means the desire of becoming one of the upper classes, and it is Daisy who gives him the strength to work on it after meeting her. The green is more like a destination for Gatsby to endeavor, which is the same as the American Dream for the whole America. It gives those who are working class the meaning of living. Although the desire of becoming one of the upper classes arises from the shame of being part of the working class and starts when Gatsby is very young, he has his own timetable, from which we can see the ambition in Gatsby.(p. 164) Daisy just reinforces the desire in Gatsby’s mind and accelerate the process of Gatsby pursuing his personal desire. Besides, due to the identity of Daisy, which is that â€Å"many men had already loved Daisy† during the first encounter of Gatsby and Daisy, Daisy has already become a The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1519 Words Life is not always what it seems, but is constantly fooled by metaphorical masks people wear. The appearance of many of the characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby differs greatly from their actual selves. The use of illusion in the novel is used effectively to portray the nature of people in the 1920 s, and the â€Å"artificial† life that is lived in this modern age. There are many incidences in which the appearance of characters is far different than what lurks inside them. Several of these incidences are shown in the appearances of Gatsby himself, Daisy Buchanan, and Gatsby’s true love for Daisy. Gatsby goes through a dramatic transformation from his old self to his new self, even changing his name and buying a faux mansion in†¦show more content†¦He was so embarrassed about having to become a janitor in order to pay school tuition, he decided to drop out of St. Olaf College in Minnesota after only a couple weeks. Another illusion Gatsby deliberately makes people believe is his rise to wealth. In order to mask his poor upbringing, Gatsby says to the story s narrator, Nick Carroway, â€Å"I’ll tell you God’s truth†¦I am the son of some wealth people in the middle-west†(65). It is also stated by Myrtle Wilson’s sister Catherine that, â€Å"Well they say he’s a nephew or a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm’s†(32). However, that is not true and it is later discovered that, â€Å"he and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter†(133). As a result, the truth of his family background is an example of the false reality Jay portrays. Gatsby’s educational background is another example of of illusion that he tries to create. A strong education is a must-have for Gatsby, as it is what categorizes the lower class from the upper class. Originally, Gatsby tells Nick that he was educated at Oxford. However, it is learned that he exaggerated the truth when he leaks to Tom that he actually only stayed five months there and â€Å"that’s why [he] can’t really call [himself] an Oxford man†(129). Therefore, Gatsby forms an illusion regarding his education in order to sound scholarly and to be accepted among the elite. After Gatsby erases his past in order to start aShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. 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