Nursing Cancer Patient

Question 1

What is the role of the nurse with a cancer patient?

Answer 1

• administering treatments (chemo, pain, side effects)
• meeting the patient’s nursing care needs
• assisting in monitoring the progression of patients
• educating and counselling owners

Question 2

What should you consider before each administration of chemotherapy drugs?

Answer 2

• review patient records
• recheck dose
• check for any previous reactions
• check the patency of the cannula for any problems (pre and post flush with non-heparinised saline)

Question 3

How can we address cancer patient needs?

Answer 3

1. Reduce nausea and vomiting
   - monitor, anti-emetics, pre-emptive treatment
2. Pain Management
   - effective assessment and re-assessment
3. Nutritional/ anorexia management
   - high BV protein and fat. Low carbohydrate. High fibre (need to eat so worst case just feed anything!)

Question 4

What are some side effects of chemotherapy?

Answer 4

• alopecia
• neutropenia
• nausea/diarrhoea/ anorexia
• perivascular tissue damage
• rare : allergic reactions or myocardial damage

Question 5

What can we do to assess cancer patients?

Answer 5

• maintain RER, BW,BCS, MCS

- QoL questionnaires/scoring sheets