CNA and Caregivers Caring for a Dying Patient-Based on Christian Belief - Paperback

by Brenda L. Johnson (Author)

Description This book addresses the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects a dying person encounters. It does not address a sudden or unexpected death except for one example regarding the spirit and soul. It explains how to care for a dying patient or loved one, how to make and keep a dying patient comfortable, and what signs and symptoms to expect as the organs shut down and the physical body changes. It helps the caregivers/family members be more sensitive to the potential discomforts and anticipates how they might handle a situation before it occurs. This book also explains the following: why a person is still able to repent on their deathbed; why a person's cognitive abilities increase on their deathbed regardless of their diagnosis, and not decrease like most people think; why hearing is only one of the last senses to leave, and not the last; why the dying person can hear and understand what's being said to them even if the body has Alzheimer's or dementia, or is in a coma; how to communicate with a dying patient; how a dying patient communicates; when it's best not to turn a dying patient; what a good/bad death is (and what contributes to each); and subjects like oxygen delivery, roommate considerations, postmortem care and more. This book is also available in a School Edition, a red cover.

Author Biography

About the Author Ms. Brenda Johnson (oldest daughter of city councilman, Joseph "Sunny" Vickers and Jackie Vickers) was born and raised in Valdosta, Georgia, where she started her nursing career as a CNA. Brenda completed Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) School in 1983 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Brenda then furthered her education by attending Valdosta Technical Institute (VTI), completing a diploma for LVN (licensed vocational nurse). Years later she returned to VTI as an adjunct instructor where she taught both CNAs and LPN/LVNs. Brenda relocated to Dallas, Texas, in 2000, where she began caring for the actively dying patient in twelve-hour shifts at bedside and has personally witnessed over 1,500 deaths and counting. In 2004, Brenda began documenting her observations concerning how to care about and manage the signs and symptoms a dying patient encounters. Brenda's main goal is to educate the world on the natural process of dying in hopes that each individual person might feel comfortable with his/her own mortality enough to discuss it openly with family members-a subject that's "taboo" in most families all the way to the very end, resulting in no one truly having closure, especially the person dying. Since residing in Texas, in 2006 Brenda returned to teaching CNAs and PCTs (patient care techs) in the classroom at PCI Health Training Institute, while working as a hospice nurse. Brenda also attended Southern Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary (Center for Biblical Studies). She lives in Mesquite, Texas, and has one son.