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Methadone Therapy

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Submitted By lailaloo
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Running head: Knocking on Death’s Door

Knocking on Death’s Door: Methadone for Palliative Care
Wendy M. Walker
NURS 407
February 23, 2015

Abstract
“Terminally ill.” “Six months to live.” “Hospice and Palliative Care.” These are just a few of the phrases that will completely turn a person’s life upside down. Effective and appropriate symptom management at the end of a hospice patient’s journey is vital. Health care professionals have a duty to provide ethical and compassionate care to patients. Ensuring that they spend their last days on earth comfortable and free of symptoms is not only the decent thing to do, but it also is very rewarding to a health care professional. With the correct combination of appropriate medications, a hospice patient can pass away peacefully, in the privacy of their own home, surrounded by loved ones.

Knocking on Death’s Door: Methadone for Palliative Care Patients on hospice care often experience pain from their terminal diagnosis, as well as a plethora of other symptoms limiting the peace and comfort they deserve during their final months, weeks, days, or hours. Hospice diagnoses include but aren’t limited to; cancer, end stage cardiac disease, COPD, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS, end stage renal disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. Passing away at home can be a beautiful, peaceful, and spiritual experience for the patient and family as long as symptoms are under control and the patient is comfortable. Towards the end of life, the human body undergoes a series of natural events and there are many different symptoms a patient can encounter, including severe pain. Typically, the patient hasn’t had anything to eat or drink for several days, maybe even weeks. They can become very disoriented and agitated. Often times, terminal restlessness occurs. The patient may cry out, attempt to crawl out of

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