As a nurse, I see many amazing things. My days, or nights, be that as it may, are very rewarding. I enjoy seeing people getting well and going home to their families. But then, there is that other side, when patients are not able to get well or they do not get to go home. They "discharge to Jesus" as we say. It's very sad, but sometimes is just as rewarding, if we are able to allow these people to die with dignity.
I say all of that to say that I have become a huge proponent of the DNR or Do Not Resuscitate. There is a certain point in a person's life when performing chest compressions on them becomes cruel. If you are elderly, your bones are more likely to be brittle and here I am pumping on your chest. I may bring you back to life but then I have created even more problems for you from broken ribs, to a lacerated liver or a punctured lung. I have, in my mind anyway, taken away your quality of life. I think that is wrong. That being said, I know that this is one of the hardest decisions that families have to make, I hate to think that I am going to have to make this choice for my parents at some point. However, knowing what I know, I am confident that I will make the right decision, no matter how awful it seems.
I think that there is a certain point, especially if a person is very ill, that peforming extraordinary life-saving measures is just cruel. That does not mean that the person should be uncomfortable in their last moments of life, they should just be at peace. I can assure you that having someone perform chest compressions is not peaceful. I think that this is where hospice can be such a blessing, because the patient is allowed to be at peace and die with dignity. They still receive pain medication to help alleviate their pain, but they will not have a tube shoved down their throat or have someone compressing their chest. They will be allowed to move on, to the next stage of their life in peace and I believe this is so very important.
As a nurse, it is my job to help the patient, whether it be to perform extraordinary life saving measures or allow the patient to die in peace and with dignity. This is a very tough place to be but I urge all of you to consider, what would you want? Please take everything into consideration when making your choice. There is not necessarily a right or wrong choice, just be sure that the choice isn't made selfishly and that the choice is truly the best decision for the patient.
This is something that has recently become very near and dear to my heart. It pains me very much to think that I will have to make this decision at some point for my loved ones, and yet, I want the very best for them and sometimes, that is not allowing the machine to live for them.
1 comment:
It has to be heartbreaking to have to do that.
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