sr2121

There was no issue with the pump. It was decided on as part of the POC and ordered by our med director. PTs other drs were 100% on board. The pt was being lovingly cared for at home in accordance with her wishes in a safe, clean loving environment. I have gone over the situation a million times in my mind, and there is just absolutely nothing that justified what happened. I quit this company the day after this happened. I will not be part of a company that would do something like this. I am just haunted that this family had to go through this in addition to what they were already having to deal with and sickened that if it was not for the PTs dr being at the house when the other nurse came to remove the pump that this patient would have been subjected to excruciating pain as she was in the final stages of dying. It goes against everything that I believe and everything that hospice care is supposed to stand for.

@dusky--for of course @baloney--she was being given comfort care only; no Rx or treatment of any kind that would disqualify her from hospice. For example, she had severe neck pain possible from a fracture caused by mets. One of the drs ordered a special pillow.....that kind of thing.

I totally agree. I am sick for the family that they had to agonize over this. One of her daughters who pretty much a child herself called me crying so hard she was hyperventilating saying the nurse was there to rip the PCA out of her dying mother. I'm devastated that I was part of an organization that would do something like this.

I recently worked on a case that changed my mind about hospice. I have always viewed hospice as not an end, but as a way for PTs to preserve dignity and to help their families peacefully navigate a wrenching process. The pt was 52 old cancer pt with primary cancer of breast with mets to the bone and lungs. When we were called in pt was suffering greatly due to being unable to swallow pain meds. Pt had a high sensitivity to pain meds and was very lucid and able to tell us and family what she wanted and when. Pt decided on PCA morphine pump with pt bolus option. PTs port had to be accessed because venous access was impossible. PTs port was turned and was very painful and difficult to access-- however we got it done and pt achieved pain relief. PTs family was affluent and had several private dr.s attending her. Drs were respectful etc. Another nurse visited pt on shift and reported to med director that there were other doctors attending pt. Med director got his panties in a bunch and ordered the nurse to inform family that pt was being discharged from hospice and to go remove pain pump. Mind you, this woman was actively dying. Removing the PCA due to issues with the port would have been excruciating for pt and for the family to watch. I approached med director to try to find a solution and she was completely unwilling. The other nurse agreed to go to the house. It took one of the PTs doctors literally physically barring the door and not allowing the nurse to remove the PCA. How could this happen?