Health Professionals Homecare goes on duty with RN Herman, who currently provides care to our private clients in the London area. This below is an example of care. This was palliative care for a gentleman in his late fifties – no longer under active treatment – suffering from a malignant brain tumour. Herman knows the importance of encouraging his patient to be as active as possible according to his mobility and healthcare guidelines, so promoting positive brain and bodily energy despite terminal diagnosis…
So Herman, could you please take us through a typical day care shift with your client?
Around 7.30am I am reviewing the patient case paperwork and assessing the shift landscape before officially going on duty at 8.00am.
7:30am
Around 7.30am I am reviewing the patient case paperwork and assessing the shift landscape before officially going on duty at 8.00am.
Shift begins / Handover with care team
On arrival, I greet other members of the patient’s multidisciplinary care team – the night RN and care assistant – who are on duty today. We conduct a patient handover before they leave.
8:00am
Shift begins / Handover with care team
On arrival, I greet other members of the patient’s multidisciplinary care team – the night RN and care assistant – who are on duty today. We conduct a patient handover before they leave.
Patient’s breakfast / Medication / Daily care
I chat with my patient while making him breakfast, and administer his prescribed medication, before helping him to wash and dress.
Continuing breakfast, we chat and watch television together. My patient has fairly limited mobility so the TV is a convenient entertainer and stimulator.
However, although it’s a major part of his days’ regime, while respecting his wishes and tastes, I always try to steer him toward beneficial mind and body exercises such as chess, physiotherapy, music, walks with the wheelchair.
We’re also actively improving his diet by nutritionally balancing his intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, white and red meat.
8:30am – 11:00am
Patient’s breakfast / Medication / Daily care
I chat with my patient while making him breakfast, and administer his prescribed medication, before helping him to wash and dress.
Continuing breakfast, we chat and watch television together. My patient has fairly limited mobility so the TV is a convenient entertainer and stimulator.
However, although it’s a major part of his days’ regime, while respecting his wishes and tastes, I always try to steer him toward beneficial mind and body exercises such as chess, physiotherapy, music, walks with the wheelchair.
We’re also actively improving his diet by nutritionally balancing his intake of fresh fruit, vegetables, fish, white and red meat.
Patient massage / Walking practice
I give my patient a massage before we work together to improve his walking technique.
When nursing a patient at home who has been told they have a relatively short time to live – depending upon the patient’s physical condition and mental capabilities – it’s important that palliative care contains elements of both physical and mental activity.
Treating patients as we ourselves would like to be treated, is vital. Any patient should be given the best possible chance to thrive, irrespective of whether or not they have a terminal diagnosis.
So, under HP Homecare’s guidance, I encourage my patient to stand, walk with and without aids.
Today, we’re staying at home but sometimes we may go to a rugby match, take a riverside walk, go to the cinema or visit his old work office. My patient really enjoys these outings and they stimulate both mind and body.
11:00am – 12:00pm
Patient massage / Walking practice
I give my patient a massage before we work together to improve his walking technique.
When nursing a patient at home who has been told they have a relatively short time to live – depending upon the patient’s physical condition and mental capabilities – it’s important that palliative care contains elements of both physical and mental activity.
Treating patients as we ourselves would like to be treated, is vital. Any patient should be given the best possible chance to thrive, irrespective of whether or not they have a terminal diagnosis.
So, under HP Homecare’s guidance, I encourage my patient to stand, walk with and without aids.
Today, we’re staying at home but sometimes we may go to a rugby match, take a riverside walk, go to the cinema or visit his old work office. My patient really enjoys these outings and they stimulate both mind and body.
Patient’s lunch
Lunchtime is whenever my patient is hungry – usually sometime between 1 and 3. I cook, and we chat comfortably while I prepare the food and we continuing over lunch.
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Patient’s lunch
Lunchtime is whenever my patient is hungry – usually sometime between 1 and 3. I cook, and we chat comfortably while I prepare the food and we continuing over lunch.
Patient takes a “siesta”
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Patient takes a “siesta”
Personal care/ Afternoon activities
I help my patient to wash and encourage increasingly independent personal hygiene. Giving a patient some independence, where feasible, is vital to wellbeing and self-esteem.
The afternoon consists of a little television, chatting, and two of the patient’s friends visit for tea, which I make and serve. Maintaining a social life can be so fulfilling for patients.
Toward the end of the day I start to collate my things, complete handover paperwork and prepare my patient for the end of his day. We exchange goodbyes until we come together again as patient, nurse… and friends.
3:00pm – 8:00pm
Personal care/ Afternoon activities
I help my patient to wash and encourage increasingly independent personal hygiene. Giving a patient some independence, where feasible, is vital to wellbeing and self-esteem.
The afternoon consists of a little television, chatting, and two of the patient’s friends visit for tea, which I make and serve. Maintaining a social life can be so fulfilling for patients.
Toward the end of the day I start to collate my things, complete handover paperwork and prepare my patient for the end of his day. We exchange goodbyes until we come together again as patient, nurse… and friends.
Shift finishes / Handover to night RN
After exchanging goodbyes with my patient I make sure to give the night RN a proper handover before he attends his shift.
8:30pm
Shift finishes / Handover to night RN
After exchanging goodbyes with my patient I make sure to give the night RN a proper handover before he attends his shift.
Interested on how a typical night shift of a HP Registered Nurse looks like?