Pain Managment In Palliative Care Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Pain Managment In Palliative Care - Assignment Example This is because pain is very severe and distressing in cancer patients and can lead to physical disability, emotional maladjustment, social detachment, psychological depression and distress, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, and feeling of unwell and above all make their journey to death miserable (National Health Service, 2006). In fact, pain is the only aspect of terminal illness that can be relieved. Nurses taking care of terminally ill cancer patients must be aware of this and take necessary measures to relieve pain in them (Kearney et al, 2000). This essay discusses pain relief management in a terminally ill cancer patient an exercise to gain further understanding into palliative care of advanced malignancy. The aim of palliative care is to enhance the quality of life of the patient and influence the course of the disease in the most positive sense. The care must be initiated as early as possible in the course of the disease in conjunction with other supportive therapies like chemotherapeutic, medical and surgical interventions. Palliative care adapts the philosophy of hospice care and the interdisciplinary practice. It applies to all terminally ill patients irrespective of their diagnosis, race, religion, age, gender and culture (National Cancer Control Programme, 2005). Pain relief is the corner stone of palliative care and enhances the spiritual value of care. Along with pain relief, other symptoms like nausea and vomiting, regional swelling, sleeplessness, gastritis and constipation must be addressed (Johnson et al, 2006). Quality of life of the patient may be enhanced by encouraging the patient and allowing the patient to indulge in activities which are a source of enjoyment and relaxation for him or her like watching movies and listening to music, by making the patient feel that the patient is yet a much wanted member in the family and by providing the patient time and space to spend