Assessment Upon entering V.B’s residence we were greeted by her CNA, at the door. The nurse introduced herself and then she introduced me. V.B. made a comment on how similar our names sounded. V.B’s was lying down in a hospital bed, which had an alternating pressure pump mattress pad placed on top. Her bed is placed in the living room right in front of a large picturesque window. She currently resides in her own home but, she does have care givers around the clock.
V.B is 94 years old and suffers from dementia and chronic pain she currently is on hospice care. The purpose of the visit was routine, to refill the medication dispenser, assess her vitals, and change her Foley, which is done monthly. My assumptions after speaking with V.B
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it was important to identify who I was, and to speak in simple short sentences. Maintaining eye contact is important. You had to patiently wait for a response when asking V.B. a question and when she did not respond you either had to reword the question or simply ask it again. I have personally dealt with dementia, and know how hard it can be for the patient and their family. I believe there are always areas for improvement, for me I have a hard time just rushing through and getting things done. The patient is confused, scared, and agitated I feel we are just adding to by changing her catheter when she did not want it done. My nurse stated we need to hurry and get this done we have another patient at such and such time. I agree we are on a time constraint but, at the same time we are agitating V.B.
Summery
The overall experience of my home health/hospice rotation was positive. I did learn you must come prepared to see you all of your patients or you will learn to improvise because you don’t have time to run back to the office. I think hospice work would be hard yet rewarding, helping someone live out their final days pain free with there loved ones. How rewarding to know you helped, someone pass on, knowing they had the chance to say their goodbye’s to their loved ones, and hopefully be pain free in doing