Nursefriendly.com: Have you ever hesitated in a ‪#‎hospice‬ patient, to give ‪#‎Roxanol‬ (morphine), worried that it might "tip" them over the edge, send them on their way?

Full Discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nurseup/permalink/847610291989655/

Andrew Lopez

June 10 at 1:18pm

Have you ever hesitated in a ‪#‎hospice‬ patient, to give ‪#‎Roxanol‬ (morphine sulfate), worried that it might "tip" them over the edge, send them on their way?
Do many perceive #hospice ‪#‎nurses‬ as practicing ‪#‎euthanasia‬ when starting ‪#‎morphine‬, upping the doses, frequency of meds?

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Lyn Trott No. I've been both the inpatient nurse and the family caregiver -- Michelle Roser is right -- it's an important tool in the toolbox.
June 10 at 1:58pm · Unlike · 5
Melissa Brown I'm not and have never been a hospice nurse. I missed that part of the question.

June 10 at 1:58pm · Like

Andrew Lopez Have given the last dose of #morphine expecting to pronounce soon after more times than I care to remember in 18 years of nursing . .

June 10 at 2:03pm · Like · 3
Andrew Lopez The worst is when you give the dose, and the patient is so far gone, they have no reserve left . . Get no relief. Need to up the dose.

June 10 at 2:04pm · Like · 1

Andrew Lopez They were all hospice, all on their way out . . .

June 10 at 2:06pm · Like · 1

Gail Weatherill Back in the Dark Ages, I published a paper in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Clnical journal on "Pharmacologic Symptom Control During the Withdrawal of Life Support". I cited studies that were done with people with severe pain who wer...See More

June 10 at 2:09pm · Unlike · 12

Leah Korkis Chelsey Primdahl makes an excellent point. NOT treating their pain and shortness of breath will hasten death. There will always be a "last dose".

June 10 at 2:24pm · Edited · Unlike · 6

Annemarie Sin Tes Why can't we provide a comfortable planned death for those agonizing and suffering in the end? I would like to hear others weigh in? I feel, should I be in the condition some have endured - I would want the right to die with dignity and at a place a...See More

June 10 at 2:35pm · Like · 4

Lyn Trott Had to fight to get hospice care for my dad. What saved us was the ability to self refer. He was 90y/o ready to go, rapidly declining health & at peace with dying. His primary was clearly uncomfortable with hospice based on all conversations unless a p...See More

June 10 at 2:44pm · Edited · Like · 7
Michele Tabat DeSocio I will in the near future most likely be dealing with hospice for my mother who is in her 16th year of dementia, age 74. She is on puréed foods and is no longer able to open up her mouth but for a baby spoon. My biggest concern is hydration, may I ask all you hospice experts how you feel about hydrating your loved ones during end of life care?

June 10 at 2:49pm · Like · 2
Jill O'Hara I'm going back any years before and when Hospice was just a baby. I worked at Roswell and never had second thoughts about administering morphine. It was not done in a manner to bring about a quick departure but to comfort and relieve distress and pain . I've had Hospice for family members and love that they are available!

June 10 at 2:49pm · Like · 6
Anne LiConti When my mother was on hospice care, I was the family care person. The hospice team was wonderful!!!! Roxanol was a huge comfort relief tool for her. It didnt "push" her over the edge, she was on hospice care 2 years and Roxanol was prescribed during those 2 years, the dose being increased the last week.

June 10 at 5:33pm · Edited · Like · 5