Use of Morphine for end of life comfort

Tweety, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?

Yes!!!!!

2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?

Yes. Usually the person was tachypnic and the resp. depression means they are resting more comfortably.

3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?

No.

4. What degree do you hold in nursing?

Associates Degree (BSN in 2007!!!)

5. What area of nursing do you work in?

Med-Surg

6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

15

Good luck.

Stitchie · Dec 12, 2005

i'm a nursing student in need of interview responses! please respond answering to the following questions. thanks!!
1. do you believe in using morphine sulfate for end of life comfort? yes
2. in your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the morphine? no. i have seen patients that were shallowly, rapidly and were restless. after the administration of the medication the patients were quieter.
3. if you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty? no
4. what degree do you hold in nursing? adn, pursuing bsn, planning on msn
5. what area of nursing do you work in? er, last employer (i am currently staying at home w/my two year old twins)
6. how many yrs have you been practicing? 2.5

good luck.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

Yes, I believe in it's use for end of life care. Yes, I have used it (once). It is my understanding that Texas law allows for the use of medications that have a double effect because it is important that the patient die in comfort. I have a MSN degree, work in Education now, & have been a nurse 10 years.

LoraLou · Dec 12, 2005

I'm a nursing student in need of interview responses! Please respond answering to the following questions. Thanks!!
1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?
Absolutely and completly
2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?
as far as sending them into respiratory depression breathing only 4-5 times a minute no, slowly the rate yes but often that is needed because they're breathing fast because of pain/fear/anxiety, etc
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?
absolutely not
4. What degree do you hold in nursing?
BSN
5. What area of nursing do you work in?
Medical/Surgical ICU/CCU
6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

2 years

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Dec 12, 2005

I am a alzheimers hospice med nurse and I give it by the buckets, no one should die in pain. Yes, there is respiratory suppression and you do need to monitor that with morphine. There is no reason to feel guilty about giving morphine to relieve pain on a terminal patient. One should feel guilty if they knowing let someone die in pain and they had the means to control it. I am a LVN in a BSN program and I have been a nurse since 1999.

I'm a nursing student in need of interview responses! Please respond answering to the following questions. Thanks!!
1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?
2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?
4. What degree do you hold in nursing?
5. What area of nursing do you work in?
6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

mc3, ASN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort? Yes, yes and yes

2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine? Yes, it's the double effect intention mentioned above. It's cruel to have someone gasping for air at end of life, don't you think? I believe the ANA and HPNA have made position statements to that effect.

4. What degree do you hold in nursing?

LPN with CHPLN certification

5. What area of nursing do you work in? Hospice

6. How many yrs have you been practicing? 2 years

Just curious, why do you ask?

:nurse:

zambezi, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2005

1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?

Yes, definately! If the patient is dying, one of my jobs is to keep that patient as comfortable as possible.

2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?

Yes, I have seen people resp. rates decrease but the work of breathing is less and the patient appears much more comfortable. I have used both IV MS and MS or Fentanyl drips for end of life pain relief. Eventually, of course, they do stop breathing but I have not ever noted it to be in response to IV MS or increase in the drip.

3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?

No. Again, it is my job to make the patient comfortable.

4. What degree do you hold in nursing?

RN, BSN

5. What area of nursing do you work in?

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

3.5 years

tanner1334 · Jan 20, 2006

1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?

YES

2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?

Yes I have seen a decrease in patients respiratory rate, but the patient always appears to be breathing more comfortably and in less distress!

3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?

NOPE, nobody should have to die in pain.

4. What degree do you hold in nursing? ADN

5. What area of nursing do you work in? Step Down Unit

6. How many yrs have you been practicing? 4 1/2 years

jodyangel, RN · Jan 20, 2006

We treat our animals better than we treat terminally ill patients.

Yes I believe in it.

Yes I've seen it cause resp. slowing

No I don't feel guilty

Sub Acute Unit in a Rehab setting

LPN

32 years!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Jan 20, 2006

Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?

YES

2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?

Yes but they are breathing more comfortably

3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?

No. The woman was in terrible pain, and actively dying anyway. Why make her last 2 days of life painful if they don't have to be?

4. What degree do you hold in nursing? ADN

5. What area of nursing do you work in? Med/surg

6. How many yrs have you been practicing? 2 as an RN, 2 as an LPN and 1 as a CNA

Demonsthenes · Jan 20, 2006

I'm a nursing student in need of interview responses! Please respond answering to the following questions. Thanks!!
1. Do you believe in using Morphine Sulfate for end of life comfort?Yes
2. In your experience have you seen respiratory suppression that you contribute to the use of the Morphine?Yes. However, I use pulse oximetry to determine how serious the respiratory depression is along with changes in levels of consciousness.
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?
I only use MS (morphine sulfate-Roxanol) for the purpose of alleviating patient pain or discomfort or for the purpose of extending life with relative comfort. The intent is important. If the intent is to alleviate pain or discomfort or to extend life, there is no moral, legal, nor ethical wrong. However, if the intent is to terminate life, then there is a moral, ethical, and legal wrong.
4. What degree do you hold in nursing?
Associate of Science
5. What area of nursing do you work in?
hospice and home health
6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

about 23:)