[Human love or professional knowledge?]

ABSTRACT

Disease or injury affects not only specific structures and physiological or psychological mechanisms but also integrated human functioning. When integrated functioning is seriously affected, the ability of an individual disturbs permanently or transiently for self-care. Vegetative state is one of severe and periodic states of unconsciousness and complete unawareness of self and surrounding environment. The patient loses his self-care ability and requires a complete compensative care system. The aim of this case report was to describe a successful long-term dependent care of a vegetative patient by family members according to Orem's theory. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered by interviewing with care givers, observing nursing care and examining the patient. The case was an Iranian 34-year-old injured man in persistent vegetative state for 17 years after an explosion leading to head injury at war. His immediate care giver was his 58-year-old father with primary education. In physical examination, his integumentary, respiratory, and urinaiy systems were normal. Laboratory tests including blood cell counts, urinalysis, urine culture and electrolytes were also normal. Immobility complications [bedsore, contractures..], malnutrition and infections were not found. This study confirms the healing nature of family care that ensures living by love and hope. According to Orem [2001], love is a positive human emotion that moves people beyond their situations. Benevolence as an active part of a perfect love enables nurses [care givers] to unite with their patients and this helps to realize specific life situations and to struggle to solve them. In critical conditions, the family power dominated by human love should be considered more than before by formal providers of care to empower family role. In addition, with respect to the role of human emotions in providing complete and effective care, developing humanistic attitudes and emotions should be of great concern in nursing education because caring needs not only professional knowledge but also human love, emotions and attitude