Benchmark – Nursing Process: Approach to Care Essay

Benchmark – Nursing Process: Approach to Care Essay

Benchmark – Nursing Process: Approach to Care Essay

Cancer is a body’s condition that is characterized by uncontrollable multiplication of body cells that spread across the body rampantly. These cells can be originally normal body cells that mutate into an abnormal cell that rapidly divides and invades other body cells and tissues. They can also be foreign cells introduced to the body that rapidly divide and attack other body cells and tissues. Cancer is a major contributor of mortality in the modern age due to the increasing change in lifestyle and technological advancements (Miller et al., 2019).The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has been on the leading foot in the studies about cancer. From various studies, this institute has come up with diagnosis and staging strategies based on the behavior of the cancer cells. The purpose of this paper is to define cancer including its diagnosis and staging, complications and effects of its treatment, and factors contributing to high cancer mortality rates. In addition, the nursing process will be applied in providing holistic nursing care to cancer patients.

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Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

Depending on the location of the cancer or suspected cancer, the symptoms may vary. Some symptoms however are common in cancers, and some of these symptoms include a lump developing under the skin that can be seen or felt as an area of thickening, changes in skin integrity such as the development of non-healing sores, skin yellowing, bladder and bowel changes in habits and fatigue among others (Koo et al., 2019). Once the symptoms are indicative of an existing malignancy, confirmatory diagnostic tests are conducted. These include imaging tests, lab tests and biopsy. For lab tests, various aspects of human body samples are analyzed including body fluids such as blood and urine. A full blood count can indicate an irregular number of white blood cells or an unusual type especially in leukemia (National Cancer Institute, 2019). Blood samples can also indicate tumor markers. Tumor markers are usually produced by cells responding to the presence of cancer or by cancer cells themselves. Cancer cells however produce a higher amount of tumor markers as compared to normal cells. Higher levels of tumor markers are indicative of a malignancy.

Imaging tests include an MRI and a CT scan. Imaging tests can clearly show the body organs and abnormal growths or tumors. A nuclear scan is also an imaging test that can be used in diagnosis. For this scan, a radioactive material is injected into the blood stream for computerized imaging (Koo et al., 2019). A bone scan can also be used to indicate bone cancers or metastasis to the bones. Radioactive material collects over the areas of bone abnormalities known as the hotspots. X-rays, PET scans, and ultrasounds are other imaging scans that can be used in diagnosing cancer. The final method of diagnosing cancer is through a biopsy. Taking biopsies is the most accurate method of diagnosing cancer. This is because biopsies are indicative of the type of cells within the area of sample collection.

There are three types of biopsies, the fine needle aspirate which involves using a needle to withdraw samples from a tissue or from body fluids. It is common for prostrate, breast, spinal taps, liver, and bone marrow aspirations. The other types are incisional biopsy which involves the removal of a small sample of the affected tissue and sending it to the lab for studies. The other type is an excisional biopsy, where the entire affected mass is excised and used for diagnosis. Biopsies offer a definitive diagnosis for cancer including the type of cells affected and the metastasis.

Staging tells how advanced the cancer is. For staging, roman numerals are used. Stage zero (0) means there is no actual cancer development, but there is a potential for cancerous development. This is also called a carcinoma in situ. A stage I means the cancer is not vastly developed and is stuck to one location. The synonym for stage I is early stage cancer. Stages II and III indicate that the cancer has metastasized to the lymph nodes and surrounding tissue (National Cancer Institute, 2019). A stage IV is the terminal stage of cancer that is irreversible even with treatment. The cancer has advanced and metastasized to other body tissues causing irreversible damage. It is also termed metastatic cancer.

The staging process incorporates the TNM system that stands for tumor, node and metastasis. Each of these is assigned values and if the specific measurement cannot be determined, an “X” is used instead. The T which stands for tumor indicates the size of the tumor given the range of 0-4. T0 means the tumor is below measureable limit. The greater the value of the T, the larger the tumor is (Rosen & Sapra, 2020). The N that represents the node is accompanied by the values 0-3, indicating the extent of lymph node involvement. The last one is metastasis that is accompanied by either 0 or 1 indicating it has either spread to other parts of the body, or it has not.

Cancer Complications and Treatment Side Effects and Methods to Lessen the Side Effects

Some of the most common cancer complications include general endocrine disorders. Some cancer cells emulate the original body cells and perform an excess of their original function. An example is hypercalcemia that is experienced in case of a malignancy. Hypercalcemia can occur due to failure of the kidneys to effectively get rid of excess calcium due to malignant disease (Koo et al., 2019). It can also occur due to a malignancy affecting the bones causing them to leak excess calcium into the blood stream. Another example is inappropriate antidiuretic syndrome characterized by an excess in the production of antidiuretic hormone. This is common in malignancies that emulate pituitary gland function and lead to an excessive production of antidiuretic hormones.

Another complication of cancer is hematologic disorders. These include anemia, which may be induced by the suppression of normal cell production by a tumor (Koo et al., 2019).  The third complication is gastrointestinal complications. These are more common in cancers that affect the GIT. These complications include abdominal pains, GI bleeding, and indigestion among others.

Cancer treatments possess various side effects. These include nausea and vomiting, hair loss (Alopecia), delirium, loss of appetite, thrombocytopenia, urinary incontinence, lymphedema, infertility, fatigue, thrombocytopenia etc. (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC] Breast Cancer, 2019). The physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment can be regulated. The physical effects can be managed using pharmacological methods. An example is the use of antiemetics to reduce nausea and vomiting. Lifestyle changes including dietary changes can also be effective in the management of GI symptoms. Psychological management is also important in managing psychological cancer effects. These patients are usually vulnerable and suffer psychological torture based on the weight of the disease. These patients require constant reassuring. They need to be indulged in activities that draw their mind off the impending diagnosis.

Factors Contributing to Incident and Mortality Rates of Various Cancers in America

Cancer is a common cause of mortality in America. This is because of the current lifestyle based on technological advancements. The feeding habits also act as a major contributor. Cheap foodstuff in America is mostly junk food found in fast food outlets and restaurants. These predispose this population to cancers raising the prevalence (Siegel et al., 2021). Familial history of cancers is also high in America. Most of the cancer patients inherited the condition from their bloodline. The high mortality rates experienced in America due to cancer are due to the increase in prevalence of cancer.

Studies however indicate that smoking rates in America have reduced b 11% which effectively reduces the rates of lung cancer significantly. Alcohol intake has however increased by 0.6% increasing the risks of liver disease and associated GIT cancer. The rates of obesity and associated risk factors have been increasing over the years and this increases the prevalence of cancer. The National Cancer Institute (2021) outlines ageing as a risk factor for cancer development. This is because ageing cells are prone to mutations and escape of normal cell development regulations.  America, the ageing population is significantly high, increasing the incidence of cancer. This explains the surge in cancer cases experienced in America.

The American Cancer Society

The American cancer society (ACS) is a large widely recognized organization that offers healthcare and support services to cancer patients. They also provide educational services and information regarding cancer, its diagnosis, treatment and management. This organization can offer educational services especially during group therapy sessions. They can offer the patients a platform to express their experiences and then offer them important information regarding cancer (ACS, 2018). They also have a helpline that can be used as a source of offering educational services. When inquiries are made, they can offer additional education that tallies with the queries asked. I would recommend the breast cancer support groups as they help empower the women who feel have lost everything once they contract breast cancer (ACS, 2018). The connecting with survivors group is also an important service that can help motivate other cancer patients that they can lead a normal life even after battling cancer. It provides an essential psychological support for these patients.

Utilization of the Nursing Process across the Life Span

Cancer management can utilize the nursing process effectively. From the assessment, where the nurse evaluates the presenting symptoms, does the physical exam to come up with their diagnosis. The nurse also takes note of the patient’s complaints and uses these clusters of cues to come up with a nursing diagnosis. The primary focus of the assessment is to find out what is ailing the patient both physically and psychologically. This is what makes the care holistic. After outlining the cluster of cues, the nurse can come up with a list of nursing diagnoses that help prioritize the care (Semachew, 2018). Each nursing diagnosis originates from an actual problem based on the previous assessment or potential problems that may originate. The nurse uses this information to come up with strategies of managing actual problems and preventing the occurrence of potential problems.

This is followed by planning. For this, the nurses come up with goals that they need to achieve during the care of cancer patients. The outcome criteria indicate the expected result if the goals have been achieved (Semachew, 2018). The implementation phase follows the planning phase. Here, actual execution of the plan is conducted. The nurses perform the interventions they had planned for with a rationale for the interventions. This means each intervention has a reason for its implementation.

Lastly, the nurses evaluate the effectiveness of their interventions by checking the patient’s outcome. If the goals are unmet, the nurse starts the process over again to correct the hitches that prevented the achievement of the goal (Semachew, 2018). The target is patient well-being holistically and this requires a series of management strategies, explaining the need for the utilization of the nursing process in patient management.

Contribution of Liberal Arts and Science Studies to Nursing Knowledge

Studying liberal arts as an undergraduate has many advantages to the nursing field. This is because mathematics increases the capability of an individual to accurately give statistics as required. In the nursing field, statistics are an important phenomenon. Social sciences are important as they improve an individual’s communication skills and improve their basic social skills (Kooken & Kerr, 2018). This will be especially helpful in interacting with the patients and fellow healthcare workers. Nurses who take liberal arts have a greater capacity for critical thinking and decision making. Finally, the nurses also gain the capacity to view the society in a broader way and understand social and cultural diversities in the provision of care. This is what promotes holistic patient care.

Science studies equip the nurses with the knowledge about body processes. This gives them the ability to understand the pathophysiology of disease processes and how to effectively manage them (Kooken & Kerr, 2018). Science studies also equip nurses with the emerging treatment strategies and equip them with the scientific knowledge to conduct research on the effectiveness of such treatment strategies and their side effects.

Conclusion

Over the years, studies have been conducted to come up with the most appropriate management strategies for cancer. The main reason why the existing remedy or cancer treatment is not effective for all cancers is that cancerous cells keep changing their configuration. The nurses are tasked with offering palliative care to patients who are suffering from stage 4 cancer. This requires empathy and understanding. It is also important to incorporate psychological support to the patient and family during their care. This is what holistic nursing care entails. Incorporating liberal and science studies in nursing has been instrumental in improving the communication skills, changing the approaches to patient care and providing scientific knowledge to nurses is instrumental in the management of cancer.

References

American Cancer Society. (2018). ACS Patient Programs and Services. Cancer.org; American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/support-programs-and-services.html

CDC BreastCancer. (2019, October 30). Side Effects of Cancer Treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/patients/side-effects-of-treatment.htm

Gegechkori, N., Haines, L., & Lin, J. J. (2017). Long-Term and Latent Side Effects of Specific Cancer Types. Medical Clinics of North America, 101(6), 1053–1073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2017.06.003

Koo, M. M., Swann, R., McPhail, S., Abel, G. A., Elliss-Brookes, L., Rubin, G. P., & Lyratzopoulos, G. (2019). Presenting symptoms of cancer and stage at diagnosis: evidence from a cross-sectional, population-based study. The Lancet Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1470-2045(19)30595-9

Kooken, W. C., & Kerr, N. (2018). Blending the liberal arts and nursing: Creating a portrait for the 21st century. Journal of Professional Nursing, 34(1), 60–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2017.07.002

Miller, K. D., Nogueira, L., Mariotto, A. B., Rowland, J. H., Yabroff, K. R., Alfano, C. M., Jemal, A., Kramer, J. L., & Siegel, R. L. (2019). Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2019. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 69(5). https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21565

National Cancer Institute. (2019). Diagnosis and Staging. National Cancer Institute; Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging

National Cancer Institute. (2021, April 2). Cancer Statistics – National Cancer Institute. Www.cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/statistics#:~:text=These%20trends%20show%20that%20progress

National Cancer Institute. (2021, May 5). What Is Cancer? National Cancer Institute; Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer

Rosen, R. D., & Sapra, A. (2020). TNM Classification. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553187/

Semachew, A. (2018). Implementation of nursing process in clinical settings: the case of three governmental hospitals in Ethiopia, 2017. BMC Research Notes, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-018-3275-z

Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D., Fuchs, H. E., & Jemal, A. (2021). Cancer Statistics, 2021. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 71(1), 7–33. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21654

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Benchmark – Nursing Process: Approach to Care

The nursing process is a tool that puts knowledge into practice. By utilizing this systematic problem-solving method, nurses can determine the health care needs of an individual and provide personalized care.

Write a paper (1,750-2,000 words) on cancer and approach to care based on the utilization of the nursing process. Include the following in your paper:

Describe the diagnosis and staging of cancer.
Describe at least three complications of cancer, the side effects of treatment, and methods to lessen physical and psychological effects.
Discuss what factors contribute to the yearly incidence and mortality rates of various cancers in Americans.
Explain how the American Cancer Society (ACS) might provide education and support. What ACS services would you recommend and why?
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 and demonstrate the delivery of holistic and patient-focused care.
Discuss how undergraduate education in liberal arts and science studies contributes to the foundation of nursing knowledge and prepares nurses to work with patients utilizing the nursing process. Consider mathematics, social and physical sciences, and science studies as an interdisciplinary research area.
You are required to cite to a minimum of four sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and relevant to nursing practice.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:

RN-BSN

2.1: Incorporate liberal arts and science studies into nursing knowledge.

3.1 Utilize the nursing process to provide safe and effective care for patients across the life span.

RUBRIC