Use of Morphine for end of life comfort

leslie :-D · 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?mso4 is known to cause respiratory depression but if one's rr is high 40's, your goal is to bring rr down to wnl.
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?
Never.I would feel guilty if I couldn't use it.
4. What degree do you hold in nursing?
ADN
5. What area of nursing do you work in?
Hospice
6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

10 yrs.

Gompers, BSN, RN · 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? I've seen painful, labored breathing get easier with morphine, and I've also seen it stop the horrible gasping that you see towards the end.

3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty? No

4. What degree do you hold in nursing? BSN

5. What area of nursing do you work in? Neonatal ICU

6. How many yrs have you been practicing? 7 years

Just wanted to add that when my grandmother was dying of metastatic pancreatic cancer, her doctor asked my family (my dad had POA) if they wanted her to get as much morphine as necessary to relieve her pain, even if it meant that it might depress her breathing. We agreed, and she did pass away much faster than she would have if she hadn't had the morphine. I'm so glad the nurses caring for her had no guilt about giving large doses of morphine. Even though we lost my grandma so quickly, she was in little pain.

jabbeyw · 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? MOst of time this is not significant. If dyspnea morphine may slow however its greater effect is to relax the chest wall muscles to decrease the effort needed for breathing. For example a resp. rate of 40 may slow to 30
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty? No
4. What degree do you hold in nursing? BSN
5. What area of nursing do you work in? hospice
Please feel free to contact me for further questions or clarification

jabbeyw · Jan 20, 2006

I have found that misunderstanding on purpose of morphine has been shunned and fear of making someone die has come to the surface especially with nursing and the dying pt. A pt that is terminal has a different physiology than other pts.

pugmum · Jan 23, 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? in palliative pts., no. in acute care, yes.

3. if you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty? no

4. what degree do you hold in nursing? bsn

5. what area of nursing do you work in? education

6. how many yrs have you been practicing? 30

jhushon · Jan 23, 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 the resp usually slow because the pt's pain has improved
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty?
Yes I have used it. The only time I ever felt guilty is when I was a new nurse and afraid to use it, therefore underdosing my pt
4. What degree do you hold in nursing?bsn
5. What area of nursing do you work in?er
6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

14

Jedi_Iatros · Jan 23, 2006

I heard hospice sometimes uses 1000 mg of morphine sulfate per dose on dying patients!!!!!

:uhoh3:

The most I've ever given ms04 wise was around 2-20mg. I'd freak if I gave more than that knowing what ms04 would do to someone (specially the elderly).

lelia · Jan 23, 2006

1. yes

2. yes. it helps to comfort a pt whosse is struggling for breath relax and take the pain away.

3. NO NO NO, have had several families aks me to make the loved ones as comfortable as possible

4. No, no one should have to end their life in pain it at all possible help them to maintian the dignity LPN to RN

5. MED/SUR mostly renal/ diabetic

6. 2.5 yrs

mwray1 · Jan 24, 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? Seen breathing slowed, never what I would call suppressed.
3. If you have used it in your experience - did it make you feel guilty? Never felt guilty.
4. What degree do you hold in nursing? ADN
5. What area of nursing do you work in? Geriatric, Education
6. How many yrs have you been practicing?

10 Years

nursemaa · Jan 24, 2006

My mother died a couple of weeks ago. Before she got the morphine, she had been in terrible pain and frantic because she couldn't breathe. The morphine allowed her to rest and slip away quietly.

So yes, I belive in it- it was terrible to see her so anxious and in pain.

Yes, it slowed her respirations but did not cause her death- just made it peaceful.

I work in med-surg, have been a nurse for 25 years, have an MSN.

No guilt.

emjay · Jan 24, 2006

1. Yes, No one deserves to die in pain except criminals.

2. Yes, numerous times.

3. Never. One time had to give this lady that had an inoperable heart condition who was in terrible pain Morphine 4 every 5 min. Til she passed away, in comfort.

4. An Associate's.

5. Work in Med/Surg unit.

6. 10 years

allnurses Guide · Jan 28, 2006

1. Yes, often. Especially when I took care of my terminally ill husband at home.

2. Yes and no. Yes, breathing got easier, no it did not contribute to or hasten death.

3. NO. Why should anyone feel guilty about relieving pain?

4. BSN

5. ER

6. 25 years