What comfort measures would you want?

Nurses General Nursing

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Ok...suppose you're terminal. What kind of orders would you want and why?

I'd want a DNR, of course. I'd want Roxanol and O2, but nothing crazy, no tubes, no vents.

Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

I would probably go into hospice care! I'd want a Morphine PCA--Roxanol is good, but I'd want immediate effects. Unless. of course I don't have any veins left, then Roxanol q hour. I would also be a DNR-CC(comfort care). Here in Ohio, there are two levels of a DNR order. The one I mention above is strictly comfort measures only. The other level DNR-CCA(Comfort Care Arrest) means that we will do everything we can up to the point of respiratory or cardiac arrest--also no mechanical intubation but we can give meds and such. We've had pt's that are made a DNR-CCA but continued with Tube feedings and TPN. Doesn't make sense to me at all.

I wouldn't want to be kept alive by artificial means, no tube feedings or TPN for me.

Jack Daniels 30cc PO PRN

Originally posted by Rustyhammer

Jack Daniels 30cc PO PRN

heheh; I suppose then you'd wanna smoke something to control the nausea....

:rotfl:

LOL Rusty....I second having a bar close by...preferably frozen margaritas

Specializes in Home Health.

Rusty...love it!!

I would want home hospice, and a morphine drip/PCA pump. A waterbed may be nice, and daily massage or jacuzzi's, with slushy drinks being served, like strawberry daquiri's. And, if I knew the end was near, Oh dear, dare I say it out loud, I would probably like a few doobies for the road. (It was in college, and I never inhaled ;) )

yeah yeah ...in college...i never inhaled either. if i had that would make me a pot smoker and im not.

lmao

rusty...prn q how many hours?

lol

no vent thats for sure

no pounding on my chest either

no tubes

drugs are ok

oxygen when i need it

and morphine morphine morphine....drip or pca...i want to be COMFORTABLE...i dont want to suffer...i dont want my last hours in agony. i want to go out stoned.

Specializes in ED staff.

I'm gettin DNR tattoo'd on my chest.... Morphine makes me itch, so can I have demerol or dilaudid instead? I want a drip, don't make me waste my energy by having to push a button on the PCA pump. A little Ativan IV when I get too stressed about leaving the people and pets that I love behind. I agree with everyone else, I don't want to suffer, send me out gorked. I would like to be awake enough to tell my loved ones goodbye, let's just hope I've already shown them how much they mean to me :)

Well, as a former hospice nurse...... to start with, DNR/DNI (tatooed on my chest). I'd like to be cared for in home hospice by a team trained to care for terminally ill. Also, I'd like comfort measures only; not everyone has the same idea as to what constitues comfort. I'll have it clearly stated in POA and living will.

Besides O2, I'd like adequate amounts of MSO4 or whatever works best to control my pain and by the best route. I'd like ativan for anxiety, and other meds as necessary for symptom control; bearing in mind that there are many non-pharmaceutical symptom control interventions. But, a good practictioner can/will work w/ a good pharmacist who has ideas.

I'd like to be cared for by those who care, those who will provide me with the comfort they'd like; with few exception, lay persons can be taught care. If I'm hungry, they can be shown how to feed me, but NO force-feeding. Mouth care, lotion, and massage are things I feel necessary (hey, we healthy folk can hop into the shower). I'd like to be clean, have a bath, fresh sheets, have someone wipe the sweat off my forehead and face if I'm too weak. I'd also wish that I'd have opportunity to discuss this life and concerns I may have with others(friends, family and members of hospice team).

Having said that, I know that some of us need our own time, time away from others, and I'd wish to be asked if that was something I needed-even if only for 15 minutes daily. Please surround me with people and things I love, things that have brought me comfort in the past; animal, vegetable, mineral...you get the jist. For me, its people, and lots of them.

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Originally posted by Rustyhammer

Jack Daniels 30cc PO PRN

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I would want all the comfort measures of a 5 Star Hotel myself. That would include my own private duty doctor and private duty nurse. Meals cooked for a Queen. Bed linen, mattress, and pillows that feel like I'm already floating in Heaven on the softest of all clouds. Dasani water galore! An occasional Chocolate Candy Bar to make up for the lack of "UMPH" I would ordinarily be getting IF not terminally ill...although I've forewarned my dear hubby that if he doesn't provide the "UMPH" even during my incognizant moments, after I pass away, I would come back and haunt every "UMPH" experience he may ATTEMPT to have in my absence. :rotfl: I would NOT want negative vibrations around me. Play Kenny G's jazz CDs, BeBe & CeCe Winan CDs, and Sandy Patti's CD's around the clock at random...never ceasing to have a musical moment going on. Keep my bottom clean constantly...don't let me lie in the mess just because I'd be terminal. I'll remember you on the other side of you don't keep me clean, and I'll rain dustclouds on you when you least expect it. :p :chuckle

Specializes in Community Health Nurse.
Originally posted by thisnurse

yeah yeah ...in college...i never inhaled either. if i had that would make me a pot smoker and im not.

lmao

That quote sounds like President Clinton's line...didn't inhale...:rotfl: Just teasing with ya' - this nurse. :kiss

MSO4 drip... slow and steady.... lalalalalalla

B.

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