Ch. 30 (End-of-Life Care) Flashcards
(8 cards)
What are signs and symptoms of imminent death?
- Decreased blood pressure & weak pulse
- Dyspnea or periods of apnea (agonal respirations)
- Slower/no pupil response to light
- Cold extremities, pallor/mottling of skin
- Loss of hearing & vision
- Bladder/bowel incontinence
When do life-sustaining measures need to be established during a patient’s care?
when patient is admitted/upon arrival
especially when pt is transferred in (always ask if they have DNR)
What is defined as legal document that allows patients to express their desires regarding terminal care and life-sustaining measures?
advanced directives
Why is recognizing the signs of imminent death important to know for the family?
To help keep family informed of patient status
What are the definitions of death?
- brain death
- somatic death
- molecular death
What kind of death is pronounced/determined by an EEG?
brain death
What kind of death is pronounced/determined by the absence of cardiac and pulomnary functions?
somatic death
What kind of death is pronounced/determined by cessation of celllular function?
molecular death
