Seminars in oncology nursing
-
To provide a review of the development and impact of palliative care; to discuss quality of lie as a framework for guiding clinical practice and research in palliative care; and to identify future trends that are likely to affect palliative care services. ⋯ Incorporation of palliative care principles across the cancer illness trajectory requires an attitude shift by all members of the multidisciplinary team.
-
To examine the issues and methods in measuring the cost-effectiveness of palliative care for incurable cancer. ⋯ Nurses influence both the cost and the effectiveness of palliative care. Cost of nursing services is often factored into the numerator of the cost-effective equation. Effectiveness of nursing care should be factored into the denominator and can be measured in multiple ways, including the impact on patients' quality of life. Nurses can play an active role in assessing and advocating for the cost-effectiveness of palliative interventions.
-
To examine issues related to the assessment of pain, symptoms and functional status in patients with cancer and the timing of assessment and appropriate tools to collect this information. ⋯ For pain to be evaluated and treated effectively, regular consistent assessment of pain by the clinician is imperative. This comprehensive assessment allows the clinician to choose modalities most likely to work for the individual patient.
-
To examine pain-related constructs, illness related constructs, and the particular importance of the physical examination as integrative steps in a comprehensive pain assessment. ⋯ The nurse's understanding of pain-related constructs, illness-related constructs, and the importance of the physical examination will help provide strategies for pain management that are most likely to offer both pain relief and improved quality of life.
-
To review the basic principles of patient education, models of innovative approaches to patient education, and needs for future development in patient education. ⋯ Nurses are essential to improving the care of cancer patients in pain by providing patient education as a care component of professional nursing practice. The challenge remains to overcome significant barriers of limited time and resources to achieve these goals.