Joan is a certified nursing assistant with a home care hospice program and is caring for Ann, a 70 year old woman dying of uterine cancer. Ann is spending her last days at her daughter’s home, surrounded by family. Ann is weak and requires complete care for all ADL and personal hygiene, toileting, etc. She has been treated for her cancer for the last 5 years and also has a history of cardiac bypass surgery.
Joan is with Ann for 6 hours each day, allowing Ann’s daughter to take her young children to their pre-school an to get some time for herself, run errands, etc. Sometimes Joan has meals with the family, especially when friends drop by with casseroles. Due to Ann’s condition, there is no smoking allowed in the house--so Joan takes short smoking breaks outside when there are appropriate opportunities.
Last week Joan volunteered to take out the garbage. While disposing of it Joan was stuck with a needle.
