Comfort Measures for Dying Patients

Basket of Comfort Measures for Dying Patients: Symptoms, Causes, and Solutions

Basket of Comfort Measures: A collection of items/ideas that Personal Support Workers can use to decrease a dying personâ€™s discomfort and provide support. Avoid the use of medical interventions eg. medications.

1. Select 6 symptoms experienced by the dying person from the list below

2. Discuss 2 possible causes for each of the 6 symptoms chosen

3. Identify 2 items/ideas you could put into your â€˜Comfort Basketâ€™ to alleviate each of the chosen symptoms

4. Describe how each item/idea put into the Comfort Basket helps to alleviate the symptom and provide comfort to the dying person.

Common symptoms experienced by the dying person:

Pain
Nausea and Vomiting
Fatigue
Difficulty Breathing
Delirium
Dehydration
Decreased Appetite
Mouth Discomfort
Changes in Bowel and Bladder Function
Anxiety
Depression

Assignment Criteria

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Needs Improvement

Below Accepted Standard

Mark

1) Discusses 2 possible causes for each of the 6 symptoms chosen.

(12)

Clearly discusses in detail 2 possible causes for each of the 6 symptoms chosen.

(12)

Discusses possible causes for each of the 6 symptoms chosen.

(9)

Somewhat discusses possible causes for each of the 6 symptoms chosen.

(6)

Minimally discusses possible causes for each of the 6 symptoms chosen.

(3)

Little or no necessary content.

(0)

/12

2) Discusses 2 items/ideas that can be put into the Comfort Basket for each of the 6 symptoms chosen and describes how each item chosen helps to alleviate the symptom and provide comfort to the dying person.

(24)

Clearly discusses in detail 2 items/ideas that can be put into the Comfort Basket for each of the 6 symptoms chosen and describes in detail how each item chosen helps to alleviate the symptom and provide comfort to the dying person.

(24)

Discusses 2 items/ideas that can be put into the Comfort Basket for each of the 6 symptoms chosen and describes how each item chosen helps to alleviate the symptom and provide comfort to theÂ dying person.

(18)

Somewhat discusses 2 items/ideas that can be put into the Comfort Basket for each of the 6 symptoms chosen and somewhat describes how each item chosen helps to alleviate the symptom and provide comfort to the dying person.

(12)

Minimally discusses 2 items/ideas that can be put into the Comfort Basket for each of the 6 symptoms chosen and minimally describes how each item chosen helps to alleviate the symptom and provide comfort to the dying person.

(6)

Little or no necessary content presented.

(0)

/24

4) APA 6th ed. format utilized and minimum 3 referenced resources included. Turnitin originality report with percentage submitted.

(3)

APA correct; correct margins, double spaced, title & reference pages, numbered pages, correct in- paper citations, stapled only, no folders, rubric sheet.

Minimum 3 referenced resources included. 0 errors. Turnitin originality report with percentage submitted.

(3)

Mostly correct application of APA, meets most criteria. Minimum 2 referenced resources included. 1-5Â errors.

Turnitin originality report with percentage submitted.

(2.25)

Some correct application of APA, meets some criteria. SomeÂ referenced resources included. 6- 8 errors. Turnitin originality report with percentageÂ submitted.

(1.5)

Minimal application of APA with many mistakes. Minimal referenced resources included. 9 - 10 errors. Turnitin originality report with percentage NOTÂ submitted.

(0.5)

Little or no attempt at APA

formatting. No references or descriptions.

(0)

5) Spelling & grammar/punctuation:

(3)

Perfect spelling and grammar. Grammar and spelling appropriate to college level writing expectations.

0 errors.

(3)

Mostly correct spelling and grammar with only a few mistakes. Meets college level writing expectations. 1-5 errors.

(2.25)

Several spelling and grammar mistakes. Below college level writing expectations. 6-8 errors.