Carmencita Abaquin PREPARE ME Interventions & the Quality of Life of Advance Progressive Cancer Patients Carmencita M.

Abaquin is a nurse with Masters Degree in Nursing obtained from the University of the Philippines College of Nursing. An expert in Medical Surgical Nursing with subspecialty in Oncologic Nursing, which made her known both here and abroad. She had served the University of the Philippines College of Nursing, as faculty and held the position as Secretary of the College of Nursing. appointment as Chairman of the Board of Nursing speaks of her competence and integrity in the field she has chos Basic Assumptions and Concepts: PREPARE ME (Holistic Nursing Interventions) are the nursing interventions provided to address the multi-dimensional problems of cancer patients that can be given in any setting where patients choose to be confined. This program emphasizes a holistic approach to nursing care. PREPARE ME has the following components: Presence being with another person during the times of need. This includes therapeutic communication, active listening, and touch. Reminisce Therapy recall of past experiences, feelings and thoughts to facilitate adaptation to present circumstances. Prayer Relaxation-Breathing techniques to encourage and elicit relaxation for the purpose of decreasing undesirable signs and symptoms such as pain, muscle tension, and anxiety. Meditation encourages an elicit form of relaxation for the purpose of altering patients level of awareness by focusing on an image or thought to facilitate inner sight which helps establish connection and relationship with God. It may be done through the use of music and other relaxation techniques. Values Clarification assisting another individual to clarify his own values about health and illness in order to facilitate effective decision making skills. Through this, the patient develops an open mind that will facilitate acceptance of disease state or may help deepen or enhance values. The process of values clarification helps one become internally consistent by achieving closer between what we do and what we feel. To Nursing may be able to provide the care that our clients need in maintaining their quality of life and being instrumental in Birthing them to External life Identify origins of the theory (what prompted) the incidence of cancer has significantly increased not only in the Philippines but also worldwide Examine the meaning of theory

1. Terminally-ill patients especially cancer patients require holistic approach of nursing in different aspects of man namely the emotional, psychological, social and spiritual. In this premise, patients with incurable disease require multidimensional nursing care to improve quality of life. 2. PREPARE ME nursing interventions are effective in improving quality of life in terminally-ill patients. 3. Utilization of intervention as a basic part of care given to cancer patients, likewise, incorporation in the basic nursing curriculum in the care of these patients. PREPARE ME must be introduced and focus during training of nurse both in academe and practice. 4. Development of training programs for care provider as well as health care profession where intervention is a part of treatment modalities. 5. The nurse must be honest about the feedback on his/her condition. Nurses must do this so that they would know what the expectations of the patient and the family so that they may render a holistic caring style for the patient together with his family in his dying days. This would help the patient and family address the needs of the patient in any manner possible. (physical, emotional and spiritual) 6. The nurse must help make a supportive environment for the patient and his family in his dying days. An environment like this would promote dignity in his days left thus helping the patient accept his fate and help him/her be ready for the afterlife. The family is also guided in this rough time addressing their grieving process by instilling in them that death is part of life. Logical Adequacy The conceptual framework is logical because it is parallel with her definition of nursing and it works for the goal which is QUALITY OF LIFE She didnt give emphasis on the extraneous variables affecting the variables involved. Strength It provides us standardized and holistic approached in addressing the needs of terminally ill cancer patients. It can also be used for other terminal cases. Weakness/Limitations Caring Ideals of nurse Severe depression of the patient. more time is needed to make the patient interested in PREPARE ME interventions because they are already experiencing loss of interest in things "Understaffing in Philippine hospitals is prevalent. (Inamarga, 2009) In the Philippine setting, due to understaffing and financial constrain, time for bed side care is limited Usefulness (practicability) This theory is useful in addressing the needs of terminally-ill cancer patients. This encompassed different aspects including family relationship and self-actualization. Appreciating the impact of a relative's cancer and offering guidance and support via patient-centered counseling can enhance quality of care.(zapka, fisher, lemon, clemow & fletcher, 2006)

Generalizability & parsimony (thriftiness) It can only be applicable to terminally ill patients and hospice facilities Abaquins theory has a wide scope of application. She generated it primarily as a result of her experience with oncology patients. But it is not limited to use in the setting. It is applicable whenever a nurse encounters terminally-ill patients. It seems to be most useful when working with those patients with imminent death. Simplicity Abaquins theory does not possess simplicity because there are many variables. The theory is designed to facilitate nursing care holistically. Testability of the theory (empirical properties) Due to high mortality/morbidity rate of cancer patients, it can be applied in practice, education and research for enrichment of oncology care. According to DOH(2007), cancer is the top 3 highest mortality rate in the Philippines. Can also be utilize in hospice care. Empirical Precision Abaquins theory appears to have a low degree of empirical validity primarily because variables are hardly measurable to the full extent even with the use of instruments. GUIDE QUESTION: 1. Do u think with the nursing understaffing prevalence, PREPARE ME can still be a practical system to use? 2. How can you assess the need for PREPARE ME in clients? 3. What other nursing interventions can you think that is fitting to improve the concept of abaquins theory? 4. What subjective & objective cues can alert you that PREPARE ME is needed? 5. What are the moral and social implications of the theory? 6. How can the theory improve your life as a human being? 7. How did the theory improve your caring values as a nurse?