Physician Assisted Euthanasia

I have been working as a c.n.a for a large nursing facility for more than a month now and I would be utterly lying to myself if that thought did not cross my mind. I have had firsthand experience caring for (or have had cared for) residents that were quite literally deteriorating before my eyes despite the very best efforts of myself and the rest of the facility's staff. And then there is a similar yet also quite different situation I have with a resident that I currently care for where for despite being relatively healthy he is completely bed bound with little more than the smallest of brainwave ability needed to be biologically alive. And even in that case he is dependent on feeding and breathing tubes. Occasionally I see his wife read to him and often wonder; would I want to be kept alive for decades after I am ,to put it quite frankly, nothing more than an empty shell; would anyone?

Observing death in the case of terminally ill residents is messy and humiliating. Which stirs the question if physician assisted suicide should be a legitimate option. In my mind my ideal death as is a old woman on her deathbed surrounded by my children and grandchildren in a room perfumed heavily with the smell of flower bouquets. With my final moments hearing their last goodbyes and feeling the warm touch of their hands until all is left are the faintest of mumbles and the gap of conciseness widens to the point of no return as death finally lulls me to the deepest of all sleeps. I feel this is a more humane way to die than clinging on to the edge like an animal.

However, I do understand that there is a downside if physician assisted euthanasia is ever legalized. For one it would complicate a doctor's Hippocratic oath, there would be cases of unnecessary suicides and other dangerous situations, hope might be abandoned too soon, and there are religious issues to address for some people. And I bet there would be at least one scandal involving an insurance agency. Yet regardless in the end of it being illegal or legalized sometime in the future I currently can only speak for myself and if I encounter a patient again in that in situation I will make sure to give my best efforts to make their final days filled with as much comfort as possible.

BLOG #1: What does Long Term Care Mean to Me

To me, Long Term Care simply means taking care of people that can't take care of themselves. Working at a Nursing Facility as a C.N.A I experience this on a daily basis. The residents I care for range in disabilities from those with crippling arthritis or dementia to complete total incontinence. My job also entails me to do different tasks usually depending on what shift I take. For example, the morning shift as soon as the resident wakes up I provide perineal care, give them a shower or bed bath, dress them, oral care, get them ready for breakfast or an early doctor's appointment then continue on changing the resident's linens.

Later in the day, after feeding a patient if needed, I continue to answer call lights throughout the day. These range in requests from new batteries for their remote and snacks to code blue where a nurse with a crash cart is needed. I also am required to turn (change positions) a resident that is bed bound and refresh everyone's ice water or thickened liquids every two hours and then more changing for incontinent patients. There are also cases where I have to provide one-on-one care (one C.N.A per high risk resident) for dementia patients and other situations where a resident is a danger to themselves and can't be left alone. In a evening shift I get the resident dressed and ready for bed I basically do the same tasks I did during the day throughout the night. Also at the end of every shift there is paperwork in recording a resident's food intake, daily activities, skin condition, and even bowl movements.

In conclusion, Long Term Care means to me helping patients do daily tasks that they would otherwise not be able to do due by themselves. This is an essential service because these patients deserve to be taken care and live the rest of their lives with as much dignity and comfort that is possible.