How easy it can be to downplay our emotional or spiritual anguish.
Occasionally, a nurse at the hospice team meeting will give an incomplete report about a patient. The team leader will prompt the nurse to make sure all the basics are covered. Though my medical knowledge is limited (and that’s a generous assessment), I’ve gone to the meetings long enough to ask a few of the predictable questions . . .
- Does the patient require oxygen? Is it continuous or as needed?
- Is he bedbound?
- What is her F.A.S.T. score?
Because of situations with several recent patients, I’ve added another subject to ask if a nurse forgot to include the information in her overview.
- Any sign of ascites?
Huh? First, let’s get to the simple, safe stuff: ascites is pronounced uh-site-teez. Read More →
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