Case Study 1

 Ms. Wells has been in an acute care setting for 1 week.  She is terminally ill with lung cancer.  Although she has been given lorazepam and Dilaudid, she has not been able to sleep for several days.  She complains of pain in her chest due to the cancer.  Her family is very anxious because of her severe pain and because she says she is afraid to sleep for fear she will die in her sleep.  Because of the demanding nature of the family and patient, the nurses on the unit are reluctant to be assigned to this patient.
 
What nursing actions and/or complementary therapies should the clinical nurse consider in this situation?

 

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