Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Nursing care and care planning to the person affected by Amiotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). |
|---|---|
| Name | Dardour Oumaiema |
| Supervisor(s) | Nichelli Paolo Frigio, Di Giuseppe Carla |
| Academic Year | 2019/20 |
| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease observed in adulthood. ALS is characterized by generalized fasciculations, progressive muscle atrophy, loss of skeletal muscle control, spasticity, dysarthria, dysphagia, and dyspnea. Currently, there is no cure, and the treatment is focused on symptoms’ control, to reduce complications and to improve patients’ quality of life. This thesis is aimed at analyzing the importance of providing nursing care to the person affected by the disease. My choice arose during the internship experience carried out in the Neurology department of the Baggiovara hospital. For the purpose of this thesis, I carried out a literature examination consulting nursing books, several scientific papers, web pages and databases like PubMed, UpToDate or CINAHL, by using the following keywords: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), motor neurons, nursing care, symptom management, end of life, caregiver. After the diagnosis of the disease, it is fundamental to promptly start the treatment, with palliative care provided by a multidisciplinary team. This thesis details every stages of the nursing process, describes the planning of the standard nursing care of the patient affected by ALS using diagnosis taxonomy NANDA-I (North-American Nursing Diagnosis Association), nursing outcome NOC (Nursing Outcome Classification) and nursing interventions NIC (Nursing Intervention Classification) to demonstrate how, through a complete and a focused nursing care, it is possible to positively improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers, who accompany and support them.