Nurses trained in the specialty of oncology have provided excellent care and improved the quality of life for many cancer patients. With cancer patients living longer and caring for what may now be a chronic condition, the instructions of knowledgeable nurses is necessary to maintain a healthy condition and prevent side effects of medical interventions. With more sophisticated and complex treatments and procedures, the care of a nurse at the bedside is vital to the health of the patient.
Complex Medical Interventions
During the course of treatment and cancer recovery, patients are challenged by medical interventions. A patient may be required to care for an IV port or central line catheter that requires sterile dressing changes and frequent flushes to maintain patency. Nurses not only care for these interventions, but also teach the patient to be aware of signs of infection, and care and maintenance of the potential dangers of IV catheters. The complexity of medical equipment and procedures take time to learn and a nurse is a natural teacher.
Side Effects of Chemotherapies
Serious complications of chemo and radiation therapies can also be avoided with a nurse at the bedside. For instance, people with mesothelioma have multiple treatments with radiation therapy, and can suffer from severe skin burns and pain that may cause infection.
A condition called neutropenia can develop after the white blood cells have been greatly affected by chemo medications. High fever and a dangerously impaired immune system may predispose the patient to potentially fatal infections. Nurses are attuned to possible effects on the body and can protect the patient from further harm.
Altered Body Image
Cancer survivors may have had surgeries or procedures that have changed their bodies for the rest of their lives. The altered body image can be devastating to many, and they usually don’t feel comfortable discussing an amputation or mastectomy with family and friends. Nurses provide a trusted and therapeutic relationship with patients that encourage them to express their negative feelings in a healthy manner.
Nurses Provide Better Outcomes for Patients’ Health
Patients experiencing cancer may be too weak or impaired to perform many self activities, much less the complexities of care. Side effects and dangerous complications from procedures and modalities are counteracted and reported by the nurse. As patient and nurse work through a therapeutic relationship, positive patient outcomes can be greatly increased. No matter what treatment or diagnosis you may be dealing with, find a nurse who not only cares about your health physically and
emotionally but also can get you back on the road to recovery. Never give up the fight.
For any questions or comments about this piece please visit Melanie Bowen at her homepage: http://www.mesothelioma.com/
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