The word “cancer” is usually perceived by many people in society as a very intimidating disease. This is due to the fact that as a society we either had a family member or someone close to us suffers from it. When a child is first diagnosed with cancer it can be very stressful for both the child and family, so clear communication can aid to alleviate fears, provide reassurance, and comfort. Children diagnosed with cancer will especially require support during this difficult transition because of the changes in body image and health status. So nurses can play a key role in providing developmentally appropriate support to both the child and family. In looking at pediatric cancer patients we will find that effective communication between nurses, patients, and family members is vital during the initial course of the disease. By assessing emotional and psychological factors, and identifying symptoms in the initial prognosis stage, it can permit for better control and management of treatment that can enhance the patient’s quality of life. Possessing an advanced plan of care document such as, “Five Wishes” can assist nurses to identify a baseline marker to determine preferred medical and care treatments tailored to the necessities of the patient. So once nurses are able to obtain a baseline history, it can encourage an open channel of communication with patients and family members that can facilitate discussion about personal beliefs, goals, and values.
An effective advanced care plan can permit clear communication that can involve the nursing staff, health care members, family and patient. In the study of Wiener et al., “Having an advance care planning document could foster discussion with family and friends, and could faci...
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.... (2007). The humanbecoming school of thought in 2050. Nursing Science Quarterly, 20(4), 308-311.
Wiener, L., Ballard, E., Brennan, T., Battles, H., Martinez, P., & Pao, M. (2008). How I wish to be remembered: the use of an advance care planning document in adolescent and young adult populations. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 11(10), 1309-1313. Retrieved from EBSCO host.
Zhukovsky, D., Herzog, C., Kaur, G., Palmer, J., & Bruera, E. (2009). The impact of palliative care consultation on symptom assessment, communication needs, and palliative interventions in pediatric patients with cancer. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 12(4), 343-349. Retrieved from EBSCO host.
Brataas, H., Thorsnes, S., & Hargie, O. (2010). Themes and goals in cancer outpatient -- cancer nurse consultations. European Journal of Cancer Care, 19(2), 184-191. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2008.01040.x
As we get older and delve into the real world, it is important to start thinking about end-of-life care and advance directives. Although it is something no one wants to imagine, there is an absolute necessity for living wills and a power of attorney. Learning about the Patient Self-Determination Act and the different legal basis in where you live is important because it will help people understand why advance care directives are so important. Although there are several barriers in implementing advance care directives, there are also several actions that healthcare professionals can take to overcome these obstacles. These are also important to know about, especially for someone going into the medical field.
Pediatric oncology has been so very rewarding in many ways, but also so very cruel in a few ways. The good days are great, but the sad days are heartbreaking. But beyond the death and the suffering, there is a whole other layer of
Two potential barriers to the Patient-Family Centered Care model are time and patient/family expectations. Nursing is a demanding job that is known for it's fast paced and often hectic environment. While caring for several patients at a time, it might be difficult to make time to discuss and involve patients and their family in all aspects of their care. This could lead to the patient/family feeling left out or even lead to fear about why information if being kept from them. To address this barrier I will set aside time to spend with each of my patients solely dedicated to discussion about the care they are receiving as well as provide an opportunity to voice questions and concerns.
Landrigan, B. (2012). Health providers need to stress importance of advance care planning. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.
While navigating the abundant and sometimes confusing legal language of advance directives can be time consuming, it would benefit every person to consider their end of life wishes and have some form of written statement available for their doctor and family to understand those wishes. Doing this in advance can prevent emotional anguish, suffering and expensive litigation. In the end, clearly and when possible, written, documentation of a medical directive, a living will, or a chosen health care power of attorney will lessen the burden for the medical professionals and family of a dying or incapacitated person.
Pediatric Oncology is at the heart of many organizations. There are many financial and emotional burdens associated with a loved one having cancer, and thanks to these foundations parents and children can sleep a little bit better at night knowing that someone has their back. Some of the more prominent groups that have an impact here in our community are: Alliance for Childhood Cancer, Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, CURE Childhood Cancer, and National Cancer Institute (Mccaul). These are organizations that make an impact in the lives of the children battling cancer and their families. Whether an organization has been started in memory of a loved one or to support a college or hospital, organizations like those listed above have
The health care system of today will be invaluable without the help of well-trained registered professional nurses. According to Wilkinson, Treas, Barnett, Smith (2016) registered nurses in today’s health care have the training required to develop a care plan with other health care workers that is specific for each patient in their care, instead of the same general approach for every patient. This is known as patient centered care because each patient is different from the other and the registered nurse role includes developing a good plan for every patient they care for. In performing such duties, registered nurses tend to create a strong bond with their patients by caring for their patients by all means possible. By caring for their patients, they tend to gain their patients and their families trust. According to Wilkinson et al. (2016) There are many support systems for patients in our communities that have good intentions of assisting sick people and those in need. Most of them are not known by the patient or their families. The registered nurse is the one who is in the position to inform the patient or family about such resources that may be very helpful for them if they are interested. By doing so, the patient knows that the nurse really cares about him/her and that feels very comforting and may help the patient get well
The care of patients at the end of their live should be as humane and respectful to help them cope with the accompanying prognosis of the end of their lives. The reality of this situation is that all too often, the care a patient receives at the end of their life is quite different and generally not performed well. The healthcare system of the United States does not perform well within the scope of providing the patient with by all means a distress and pain free palliative or hospice care plan. To often patients do not have a specific plan implemented on how they wish to have their end of life care carried out for them. End of life decisions are frequently left to the decision of family member's or physicians who may not know what the patient needs are beforehand or is not acting in the patient's best wishes. This places the unenviable task of choosing care for the patient instead of the patient having a carefully written out plan on how to carry out their final days. A strategy that can improve the rate of care that patients receive and improve the healthcare system in general would be to have the patient create a end of life care plan with their primary care physician one to two years prior to when the physician feels that the patient is near the end of their life. This would put the decision making power on the patient and it would improve the quality of care the patient receives when they are at the end of their life. By developing a specific care plan, the patient would be in control of their wishes on how they would like their care to be handled when the time of death nears. We can identify strengths and weakness with this strategy and implement changes to the strategy to improve the overall system of care with...
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Papadatou, D., & Bellali, T. (2002). Greek nurse and physician grief as a result of caring for children dying of cancer. Pediatric Nursing, 28(4), 345-53, 363-4. doi: 2003016885
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When one hears the word “cancer”, thoughts about how their previous life is about to change cloud the mind, but when one hears the word cancer for their child, it is a whole different outlook; the affects of childhood cancer are not only taken on by the patients, but also by their families; the affects can range from emotionally to physically, socially to financially, and even educationally. “Childhood cancer is considered rare, especially compared with adults. Still it’s the leading cause of death in children pre-adolescent, school-aged children” (Report: Childhood Cancer Rates Continue to Rise, but Treatment Helps Drive Down Deaths). Around 12,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with cancer every year and around one in five children that are diagnosed with cancer will die.
Stringer, S. (2013). Moral choices in end of life care for children. Cancer Nursing Practice, 12(7), 27-32.