Advanced Cancer Early malignant changes are not accompanied by pain therefore if the warning signs are ignored, regular check ups, and screenings are not adhered to cancer can be diagnosed in an advanced stage. Many times patients delay treatment and hope for the symptoms to go away; this is denial.
Pain Management
Pain is a late symptom of cancer which is related to the either the invasiveness or obstruction of the tumor. The malignant tumor may place pressure on the nerves or bones causing significant pain that is difficult to manage.
Key Factors of Pain Management include:
The nurse must accept that pain is whatever the patient says it is.
To effectively manage pain in a person with advanced cancer there must be a fixed dosing schedule of Opiods to maintain constant drug blood levels and predictable pain relief as well as having doctor orders for breakthrough pain. There are several Opiods used for pain management that are effective but run the risk of exibiting common side effects which include; constipation, nausea, vomiting, respiratory and CNS (Central Nervous System Depression).
Caring for a patient with advanced or terminal cancer
When caring for a patient with cancer it is important to give the patient as much control as possible. Nurses should not take the patients ager personally as they are grieving and need your unconditional support. Their frustration and anxiety must be met with kind and gentle nursing care.
With a terminal prognosis the patient may have a sense of helplessness or hopelessness. Patients need honesty and openness from the nurses caring for them. Nurses who have developed a relationship with their patients may initiate interventions such as spiritual activities to provide mental and emotional strength, assist with the difficult discussions such as finding out the patients wishes of where they would like to die. Hospice care enhances the quality of life, not prolonging it. Quality of life for a patient with terminal cancer has a strong focus relief of pain and comfort. Hospice service is implemented by a doctors order with a life expectancy of six months or less.
Upon review and research of the resource links and class notes, reflect on how you would like to be cared for and what would be important to you or a loved one; take a walk in someone else's shoes.
Create and discuss a holistic plan of care for a patient with terminal cancer. What nursing interventions would be deemed as high priority and why?
No comments:
Post a Comment