Tips for Nurses

Gone From My Sight The Dying Experience By Barbara Karnes

Review of Gone from My Sight by Barbara Karnes, RN

As an experienced hospice nurse with years of experience, I have come across numerous resources that aim to guide families and caregivers through the process of dying. One such resource that stands out is “Gone from my sight: The Dying Experience” by Barbara Karnes, RN. This booklet, often referred to as the “Little Blue Book,” has been a staple for hospice providers for over three decades, and for good reason.

Nourishing with Care: Feeding a Terminally Ill Loved One

Discover compassionate approaches to nourishing terminally ill loved ones. Learn about appetite changes, feeding techniques, and the importance of emotional support during meals. This guide offers practical tips for caregivers to ensure comfort and dignity while addressing nutritional needs in end-of-life care.
Dka Vs Hhs For Diabetes

Managing Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State at End of Life: A Comfort-Based Approach

As an experienced hospice nurse, I understand that managing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) at end of life can be challenging, especially when patients choose to stop taking their diabetic medications or when those medications are no longer an option. In this article, I will provide information on recognizing the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemic crises and outline comfort-based treatment options that align with hospice goals of care.

Caring for a Loved One with Dementia: Encouraging Medication Compliance

Caring for a loved one with dementia can be challenging. One common struggle caregivers face is ensuring their loved one takes their medications. Dementia can make understanding and remembering medications difficult. In this guide, we’ll explore effective strategies for encouraging your loved ones with dementia to take their medications, considering their unique needs.

Understanding and Managing Contractures

I know that the journey you and your loved one are on can be challenging, especially when facing a terminal illness. As an experienced hospice nurse caring for terminally ill patients, I want to provide you with some valuable insights on a common issue that may arise during this time: contractures.
thoughtful prescribing and deprescribing

How to Use the Beers Criteria for Medication Reconciliation and Deprescribing in Hospice Care: 10 Case Studies

In this article, we will discuss how to use the Beers Criteria to identify PIMs and potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) in hospice patients. PPOs are medications that are indicated but not prescribed for a specific patient or population, or that are prescribed at a suboptimal dose or duration. We will also present 10 case studies to illustrate the medication reconciliation and deprescribing process and the outcomes of medication changes in different scenarios.
patients escaping

How to Support a Dementia Patient Who Tries to Escape from a Memory Care Facility

Elopement is when a person with dementia leaves a safe area, like their home or care facility, without supervision. This can be intentional or unintentional, and it’s important to address to ensure the safety of the patient. If your loved one is attempting to escape from a memory care facility, there are steps you can take to support both them and the facility.
Pursed Lip Breathing

How to Use Pursed Lip Breathing to Manage Shortness of Breath

Dealing with shortness of breath can be challenging for terminally ill patients, but there are techniques that can help manage this symptom and improve their overall comfort. One such technique is pursed lip breathing. Pursed lip breathing is a simple and effective breathing technique that can help reduce shortness of breath and improve oxygen exchange in the lungs. As an experienced hospice nurse with years of experience, I will guide you through the steps of pursed lip breathing in a compassionate and easy-to-understand manner.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Understanding Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH): A Guide for Families

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition that occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull and presses on the brain. This can lead to various impairments in brain functions, such as thinking, memory, movement, and bladder control. NPH can also affect the quality of life, mood, and behavior of the person with NPH and their caregivers. The cause of NPH is often unknown, but it may be due to injury, bleeding, infection, brain tumor, or surgery on the brain. This article aims to provide a guide for families to understand NPH, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and management, as well as how to cope with the challenges and uncertainties of living with NPH.

Oh hi there 👋 It’s nice to meet you.

Sign up to receive updates on new articles to your inbox.

The emails we will send you only deal with educational articles, not requests to buy a single thing! Read our privacy policy for more information.

Share your love