I need the hospice nurses' input. I have a terminal resident who has been comfortable. I work P/T, not always on same unit. Resident was offered and given O2 for comfort one evening, and today family and POA was questioning why and stating it was prolonging her life. They did not have an advanced directive to refer to. I did explain that o2 was to decrease O2 demands on the heart , thereby providing comfort.
Is O2 really prolonging life and therefore "inhumane" as the family member stated?
Thanks!
PS- I posted this in the wrong forum because I have three teenage daughters shadowing me for use of the computer! Sorry, if a moderator reads this, please move it to Hospice!