Palliative Care Simulation Reflection

Palliative Care Simulation Reflection
Palliative care is known to be a methodology structured to handle medical cases where patients have life-limiting illnesses (National Cancer Institute, 2018). This approach is often specialized and requires a multidisciplinary team to deliver relief to the patient through the management of physical and mental challenges that come with terminal diagnoses. The objective of this approach is to improve the quality of life for both the patient and their family (Ferrell, et al., 2007). Evidence based practice has come to support this methodology due to the measureable improvements in these patient’s lives (Kavalieratos, et al., 2016). Often, managing patients with life-limiting disease can present as a challenge,

I found it was very difficult to find the words to start the conversation that would change her life entirely. I found that it was very difficult to make eye contact with the patient and I wish I had done more in order to make the process more personable and comforting. Once I was able to give the information about her diagnosis and potential prognosis, I realized that I was using a lot of medical terminology that may have been difficult to comprehend for the average person. I was able to catch myself early on, and made adjustments accordingly. I also found it was difficult to answer some of her question since they pertained to information that is out of my scope of practice. I realized I did not know much about what specific resources I could offer her for her personal life such as daycare for her children on days she goes to treatment, etc. My answer to this was to refer the patient to higher level of care and connect her to social services. I assured her that we would be a starting off point where we can connect her to the resources she may need to the best of our

In fact, that first encounter when making that diagnosis maybe one of the most difficult challenges about being a healthcare provider. I took this simulation to be a good opportunity for me to assess my skills and knowledge. Although I consider myself to need more training, I also believe that this is a skill that will have to be acquired in practice and with time. Future consideration includes having a more family centered approach. This includes being emotionally available, being expressively positive, and avoiding being dominant. In doing this, it is my hope that I can make this encounter the most satisfactory for the