Assignment task:
These are the instructions that the person responded to below
a. Discuss the laws in your state related to the nurse practitioner's (NP) role and responsibility in creating and signing advanced directives (ADs). Indicate if the NP can independently complete AD documents or a physician is required to sign or cosign the documents.
b. Consider clients you've encountered in practicum (or in your practice as a registered nurse). Identify at least ONE client who may have benefited from a referral to hospice or palliative care. Indicate why this client would have benefited from these services. Describe how as an NP you might approach the conversation with the client.
c. Discuss at least TWO recommendations you have for improving palliative and hospice care access to vulnerable and underserved populations in your community. Want Professional Help?
Read this. This is what you are to respond to- I currently reside in Georgia. In Georgia, a nurse practitioner must work under physician supervision. NPs and their physician supervisors must work together under "nurse protocol". (Georgia GOV, 2024). A nurse protocol is a written document in which the supervising physician gives the NP authority to perform medical care, and immediate consultation. Advance directives, which is also part of provider orders for life sustaining treatment (POLST) are set of portable medical records that allow someone ill to communicate their end-of-life care wishes for providers and medical facilities (NCSL, n.d). In the state of Georgia, NPS are not explicitly authorized to sign POLST forms. (NCSL, n.d). The AD document does require physician to sign.
I work as a critical care PACU nurse. One client that would benefit to hospice or palliative care was a 72-year-old female who had stage 4 lung cancer. In stage 4 lung cancer, the median survival time is four months (Lung Cancer Center, 2024). I would recommend hospice care. Hospice is comfort care without curative intent. In my client's case, her stage 4 lung cancer could not be cured. She was in constant pain and just wanted to leave the hospital. Hospice care typically cares for patients that have less than 6 months to live. Palliative care would be beneficial for individual with serious illness that does not have life expectancy or prognosis. Patients are still receiving treatments and focuses on pain and symptom management. I would approach my client with brochures of different hospice facilities and provide information about hospice care. I would make sure I answer all their questions. I know some people will not like the idea of hospice care but presenting this information will also give them options that they never though off or existed. As a nurse practitioner, it is important to present all information to the patient because you are there to help them in the best way possible.
One recommendation I have to improve palliative and hospice care access to vulnerable and underserved populations in my community is by hanging flyers and having brochures in local grocery stores and laundry mats. These are places that many people go and will stay for hours. Having information available to them in common area will help spread the word across the neighborhood. Another recommendation I have is attending health fairs and other local neighborhood events and spreading the information by handing out brochures. Many people attend these events hoping to see and learn something new. They will understand the difference between palliative and hospice care and know that they have options and access to care.
Instructions- Engage by offering new insights, applications, perspectives, information, or implications for practice. Communicate using respectful, collegial language and terminology appropriate to advanced nursing practice. Communicate with minimal errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation. 2 APA references using a scholarly article within 5 years. Please write on an advance college level.