Week 2: Discussion
Week 2: Discussion
Janice Jenkins is a 49-year-old female diagnosed 6 six weeks ago with a recurrence of breast cancer. She now has liver and bone metastases. Her past medical history includes hypertension, osteoarthritis, and type 2 diabetes, all of which are well controlled with medications. Janice is widowed and has three children, who all live within one hour of her suburban apartment. Her children and grandchildren are all active in her life and visit weekly. Janice is involved in the senior center activities in her community. She has many friends in her neighborhood, as well as the church she attends. Hospice care has been mentioned as an option to Janice by a friend whose husband died while receiving hospice benefits from a local not-for-profit organization. Janice has minimal knowledge and experience with hospice care.  She does not fully understand the implications of choosing the hospice benefit, which is offered as an option on her health care plan. Janice has just recently told her family that she is considering hospice care as an option. Her only concern is that she lives alone and is afraid of pain. She states, “I am not afraid to die. It is just how I am going to die that scares me.” Janice understands that to be considered for the hospice benefit, two (2) doctors need to diagnose her as terminally ill. Janice understands that the expectancy to be admitted to the hospice program is six months. She wants to live for another year to see her granddaughter get married. She would like the benefits that hospice provides, but she is fearful that this is not the right time to begin hospice care. 
The American Cancer Society website, www.cancer.org, has a well-prepared overview of hospice-search the term “hospice.” The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) also have websites at www.nhpco.org and www.hpna.org. Review the websites and respond to the following questions.
- Describe the goals of hospice and the services that may be provided by the hospice interdisciplinary team.
- How can Janice obtain a referral for hospice care that will include an assessment by the hospice admission nurse?
- Explain how the IDT can address Janice’s fear of pain and her statement, “It is just how I am going to die that scares me”?
- Janice’s family does not want her to accept the hospice benefit as a basis for her continued care. They feel that hospice will allow Janice “to give up and die sooner.” As an AGPCNP, explain how you could address this family’s concern.