RN'd

Hello everyone, I found myself musing on this in response to a peer's use of the term "battle" relating to cancer: "With regard to how you say "the battle is ending for most cancer patients" who are in hospice care. I have worked with many patient's with cancer who have transitioned to palliative/hospice care. Speaking from this experience, it is my feeling that the term "battle" that is so popularly used in the mainstream health culture to describe the individual or the subject's relationship to the disease and diagnosis of cancer is inaccurate. It imparts a meaning that casts a a false absolute dichotomy of win/lose with all the culturally associated positive/negative valuations. "To battle" also implies a conflict where violent action is legitamized and accepted as a solution. I disagree here. I don't think that the persons experience with cancer with regard to what it is to live a meaningful life has to be chalked up to a "loss" at the end of a life that has experienced cancer. I don't believe this does justice to, or captures the experience of living with cancer or the spectrum of life and death." What do you think about this? Please share your thoughts.

Hi there, I recently just started working for a home health agency giving IV infusions. One of my clients receives a 8 hr IVIG infusion for ICDP. He has been receiving this therapy for over a year and does not experience adverse side effects to the medication. My problem lays in that, during his 6 hr infusion he feels he needs to drive somewhere. I have told him that I did not think it was safe. But honestly I'm erring on the side of safety because I don't know if there is any reason he shouldn't be able to drive. He is highly functional, totally stable while receiving his infusion, and otherwise fairly active in his house during the infusion. I hate to have to put the brakes (pun intended) on his functionality and quality of life, especially if it is not needed. I hear about people receiving IVIG infusions while at work, so I'm wondering whether or not my reservations to let him drive a short distance are unwarranted so long as his tubing and IV are secure. I am aware that I cannot keep him in his house against his will. Is all I can do voice my disapproval and insist to stop the infusion and document that he chose to leave while his infusion was running? What do you think? I would appreciate some feedback on this. Thanks!