Expert: Violet Argo RN - 4/15/2006

Question
Hi Violet,

I love reading this informative site and thank all the nurses for providing this site.I hope you can offer an insight into my friend's situation. He's just 25 years old and had carcinoma of the rectum.
He requires daily dressing on his rectal wound and unable to sit or walk at all. He's in palliative care now and I would like to know how would you manage his physical and psychosocial symptoms from a nurse's point of view? He wants to spend time with his family but they want him "finish" in the hospice.
Thanks for the response.

Girlie


Answer
If he is on hospice care they should provide a patient family counselor who will be a great asset is assisting with the psychosocial issies. The nurses and medical staff will bea   great asset with the physical pain. Jus be there for him and the family and do nto bee affraid to talk to him and be ready to LISTEN when he needs to talk. Medications, massage, touch and aroma theraphy are great ways to treat symptoms.