運用靈性照護於一位肝癌末期病人之護理經驗

Spiritual Care of a Terminal Liver Cancer Patient: A Nursing Experience

死亡是人生不可避免的過程，不僅是身體上受苦，還包含心理和靈性層面。個案是一位肝癌末期中年男性，被醫師告知只剩下一個月生命的臨終病人，照護期間為2009年1月17日至2月9日，從住院到死亡共24天，筆者藉由每日之探視陪伴、家屬會談及病歷查閱等方式收集資料，完整紀錄照護日誌共11篇。於照護陪伴過程中確認其靈性層面之宗教需求，包括想成為基督徒，想了解並為自己安排後事。筆者主動連結宗教資源於個案過世前九日，安排牧師在病房舉行基督教的洗禮儀式；請牧師為其解釋葬禮程序；並接受托付協助完成生命結束後之各項計劃，包含在醫院往生、簡單隆重的火葬、在教堂舉行告別式及安置墓園地點等。期望此報告的分享，提昇護理人員對臨終病人靈性需求的敏感度，提供適切的靈性照護，讓病人有品質的善終。

Death, an unavoidable event in the human experience, causes physical as well as mental and spiritual suffering. This paper reports on a nursing experience giving spiritual care to a terminal liver cancer patient between January 17 and February 9, 2009. Eleven nursing logs were used as the source of data for daily information. During the care period, patient religious needs featured prominently, including his desire to become a Christian and his eagerness to know about and help in the arrangement of his funeral. Taking the initiative, the nurse helped link him with religious resources, arranged a minister for his baptism ceremony, had the priest explain funeral proceedings, and assisted with the completion of his entrusted plans. The function of this nursing care intervention was to provide a personal touch to a patient who was in desperate need of warm spiritual care. It is hoped that this report can help caregivers increase their sensitivity toward patient spiritual needs and enhance routine nursing care quality.