When someone is in pain, the painful stimulation must be removed in order for them to function. In looking at the activities of daily living such as hair brushing, dressing, and many others, makes anyone in pain lack motivation to function. When physical therapy is ordered for patients, especially in the home setting, they at times lose their motivation because of the same thing, it is too painful. But if we as nurses write the plan of care and recommend to the physician to have medications given to the patient about 20-30 minutes before therapy, then the patient may be able to work through the therapy that may be otherwise painful.
With dependent care, it is always a difficult thing if the patient is coherent enough to know that they need help. As home care nurse, I saw this frustration in many of my patients because their mind was intact, but with an injury or disease process that prevented them from taking care of themselves. This is when our compassion as a nurse can show the patient that there are ways that they can still remain independent by giving them choices whenever possible. For instance what foods they like to eat within their diet, what time of day they want their bath. Everything depends on when they have the help available, but at least whenever they can make a decision, give them that option so that way they can feel that they have some decision making power (Alligood, 2013).
References
Alligood, M. (2013). Nursing Theorists and their Work (8th ed.). Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780323091947
Dr. Rosie Moore https://rosiemoore27.com/
