Assignment: Nursing Process: Approach to Care
Assignment: Nursing Process: Approach to Care
Nursing Process: Approach to Care
Cancer is one of the non-communicable diseases that act as a source of significant disease burden to the global population. Countries spend immense resources in its treatment and prevention. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for better prognostic outcomes. Nurses and other healthcare providers should have adequate knowledge and skills on ways of ensuring optimum outcomes for the affected populations. Therefore, this essay examines different topics related to cancer. They include diagnosis and staging, complications of cancer, side effects of treatment, lessening its effects, factors contributing to the yearly incidence and mortality rate, role of ACS, utilization of nursing process, and impact of interdisciplinary research approach.
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Diagnostic Methods and TNM Method of Staging Cancer
The diagnosis of cancer is possible with several diagnostic methods. One of them is physical examination and history taking. Physical examination using methods such as inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion provide information that may lead to diagnosis of cancer. History taking on any risk factors such as family histories and exposure to radiations also guide in cancer diagnosis (Rezai et al., 2021). Laboratory tests also help in the diagnosis of cancer. This includes blood and urine tests, which can identify abnormalities associated with cancer. Imaging tests are also effective. They include computerized tomography scans, bone scan, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, x-ray, and ultrasound. Tissue biopsy also helps in the diagnosis (Crosby et al., 2020). A sample of body tissue may be taken for laboratory analysis in cancer diagnosis.
The numeric and tumor, node, metastasized (TNM) is a method used in staging cancer. TNM guides the treatment approach to cancer. The staging provides information about tumor extent (T), spread to lymph nodes (N), and metastasis (M). Cancer staging according to this method exist in the T category include TX, T0, T is, T1-T4. TX implies that the lack of evaluation of the primary tumor, T0 meaning no evidence of primary tumor, T is for carcinoma in situ, and T1-T4 for extend and size of the primary tumor. The N category includes NX for lymph nodes that cannot be evaluated, N0 for lack of regional lymph node involvement, and N1-N3 for involvement of regional lymph nodes. The M category includes M0 for no metastasis to distant body parts and M1 for distant metastasis (Piñeros et al., 2019).
Complications of Cancer, Side Effects of Treatment and Methods to Lessen Physical and Psychological Effects
Cancer is associated with several complications. One of them is bone pain that develops from metastasis and involvement of the bone tissue. Cancers such as those affecting the thyroid, lungs, prostate and breast have a high rate of bone metastasis (Zajączkowska et al., 2019). The other complication is hypercalcemia. Patients with advanced stages of cancer are at high risk of developing hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia develops from the elevated release of parathyroid hormone-related peptide, bone breakdown, and activation of activated vitamin D(Guise & Wysolmerski, 2022). Venous thromboembolism is the other complication of cancer. Patients are at a high risk of developing deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The risk arises from the disruption of the Virchow’s triad that affects blood-clotting process(Iorga et al., 2019). Some of the side effects of cancer treatment include nausea, alopecia, and weight loss, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, pain, and constipation among others.
Cancer treatment and the disease are associated with several physical and psychological effects. Interventions to minimize these effects should be adopted in practice. One of them is linking patients to social support groups for cancer patients. Social support groups will help patients cope with the increasing demands associated with the disease. The other strategy to lessen the psychological impacts of the treatment is the use of cosmetics such as wigs to hide hair loss. Patients should also be encouraged to take small frequent foods and fluids to help in maintaining body nutrition and hydration status. Hypnosis may also be used for managing pain associated with cancer. Counseling services, rest, relaxation, and distraction also help patients to overcome the psychological and physical problems of cancer treatment(De Paolis et al., 2019; Zhang et al., 2019).
Factors that Contribute to the Yearly Incidence and Mortality Rate of Various Cancers
Several factors contribute to the yearly incidence of various cancers. One of them is the increased uptake and availability of cancer screening services. This implies that the number of people diagnosed and initiated on cancer treatment is expected to increase in not only America but also other global countries. The other factor contributing to the yearly incidence is the increased exposure to environmental triggers of cancer. For example, there has been a sharp rise in the rates of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, which are associated with some cancers. In addition, exposure to chemicals and radiations in the environment contribute to the increasing incidence rate yearly(Islami et al., 2022; Li et al., 2021). The mortality rate of various cancers has also been decreasing in America. One of the factors contributing to the rising rate is the early diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment result in better prognosis, hence, the low mortality rate. Advances in cancer treatment such as new technologies for cancer treatment also influence outcomes in cancer patients. Most Americans experience significant barriers in accessing high-quality treatments for cancer. Issues such as cost and unavailability of specialized care increase the overall mortality rate among cancer patients(Zavala et al., 2021). When combined, these factors contribute to the yearly incidence and mortality rate of various cancers in America.
Role of the American Cancer Society (ACS)
The American Cancer Society (ACS) provides support to patients diagnosed with cancer and their significant others. ACS provides educative information about cancer to patients, their families and the population. The information includes specific cancers, treatment options, coping with cancer, prevention, screening, medicines, side effects, pain control, and quitting tobacco. The organization also helps patients and their families to locate the national resources they need to manage cancer effectively. The resources include patient services, support groups, social services, medical equipment, wigs and prostheses, lodging, transportation, Quitline, and financial programs. In addition, ACS provides evidence-based studies that have been conducted to inform the decisions that patients and families make. It also provides patient education pamphlets, brochures, and booklets to help patients, families, and healthcare providers. The ACS also organizes for community programs and services to help cancer patients and their families as well as survivors and friends to cope with the disease(cancer.org, n.d.). Cumulatively, the services offered by ACS reduce the burden of cancer on patients, families, communities, and the country.
Utilization of Nursing Process
The nursing process is utilized to provide safe and effective care for cancer patients across the life span. In the assessment phase, the nurse obtains both subjective and objective data to determine the health needs of cancer patients. The data guides the development of a patient-centered care plan that will optimize outcomes such as safety, quality, and efficiency in the treatment process. Nurses utilize the assessment data to develop nursing diagnoses. Nursing diagnoses guide the nursing actions that would be used to deliver patient-centered care. Nurses prioritize the diagnoses to ensure efficiency in the treatment process. Nurses also use the subjective and objective data to develop a plan of care for cancer patients. The plan must be specific to the prioritized needs to promote health and wellbeing(Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2023). The development of the care plan should be collaborative to ensure the incorporation of the diverse perspectives into the treatment plan.
In the implementation phase, nurses put treatment plans into action. They also monitor patients for their response to treatment in the monitoring phase. Monitoring helps identify potential health risks predisposed to the patients and any interventions needed to prevent them. The last step is evaluation. Nurses utilize evaluation to assess if the desired outcomes were achieved or not(Toney-Butler & Thayer, 2023). Evaluation data informs future interventions adopted to promote health and wellbeing of the cancer patients.
Impact of Interdisciplinary Research Approach
Interdisciplinary research approach build on the knowledge related to cancer research. The integration of different disciplines such as science, arts, and mathematics into nursing research increases the understanding of nurses and other healthcare providers on issues such as causes, risk factors, impacts, and prevention of cancer. For example, liberal arts increase the understanding of nurses on issues such as the influence of culture on cancer treatment. Science studies help nurses to understand better the biological causes of cancer while physical sciences enhance insights into the role of environment in the development of cancer(Smye & Frangi, 2021). Therefore, the incorporation of these disciplines helps in strengthening our understanding of cancer and its effects, which lead to the discovery of novel interventions to prevent and manage it.
Conclusion
Cancer can be diagnosed and staged using different methods. Cancer has several complications that affect patient’s health and wellbeing. Interventions to minimize the impact of cancer and its treatments should be explored in nursing practice. The nursing process can be used to deliver patient-centered care in cancer management. Interdisciplinary research approach incorporating perspectives from different disciplines increase our understanding of cancer, its management, causes, and prevention.
References
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Iorga, R. A., Bratu, O. G., Marcu, R. D., Constantin, T., Mischianu, D. L. D., Socea, B., Gaman, M.-A., & Diaconu, C. C. (2019). Venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: Still looking for answers (Review). Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 18(6), 5026–5032. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2019.8019
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1.Describe the different types of diagnostic methods utilized to identify possibility of cancer. Explain the numeric and Tumor, Node, Metastasized (TNM) method of staging of cancer after the confirmed diagnosis.
2.Describe at least three complications of cancer, the side effects of treatment, and methods to lessen physical and psychological effects.
3.Discuss what factors contribute to the yearly incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in Americans.
4.Explain what the American Cancer Society (ACS) might provide for education and support. What ACS services could a nurse recommend for these patients and why?
5.Explain how the nursing process is utilized to provide safe and effective care for cancer patients across the life span. Your explanation should include each of the five phases demonstrating the delivery of holistic and patient-focused care.
6.How does an interdisciplinary research approach (which includes liberal arts, science studies, mathematics, social and physical sciences), build on the foundational nursing knowledge related to cancer research?