Neuroscience Nursing by Woodward Sue; Mestecky Ann-marie; & Ann-marie Mestecky

Author:Woodward, Sue; Mestecky, Ann-marie; & Ann-marie Mestecky
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2010-11-25T05:00:00+00:00

CARE OF THE PATIENT UNDERGOING CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy is administered in the oncology setting as an inpatient, or more commonly as an outpatient. Chemotherapy nurses are responsible for ensuring that the patient receives the appropriate chemotherapy, the correct dose, and via the correct route, as with all medications. In addition chemotherapy nurses are responsible for patient safety and providing side-effect support (Kearney and Richardson, 2006). Neuroscience nurses encounter patients who are due to be undergoing chemotherapy following surgery, or who have been previously treated with chemotherapy and may be experiencing side-effects.

The chemotherapeutic treatment options vary depending upon tumour type. The generic side-effects of chemotherapy are summarised in Table 21.5. Drug specific information is provided at the oncology centre; many centres in the UK use patient information provided by Cancerbackup (www.cancerbackup.org.uk). Patients and carers can access this information via the internet, or request printed copies from the organisation.

Some patients have preconceived ideas about chemotherapy; they may know somebody who has undergone treatment. It is important to stress to patients that there are many different chemotherapy agents and the side-effects vary depending upon the type and dose of drug. A common concern is hair loss. However, the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents (temozolomide and PCV combination) do not cause alopecia.

Nurses are involved with monitoring side-effects and instigating appropriate management of symptoms, i.e. anti-emetics, laxatives, strategies to manage fatigue.

In addition to explaining how chemotherapy affects patients, neuroscience nurses should ensure that they have an understanding of patients’ experiences of chemotherapy, be aware of the strong and varied emotions that patients may need to express, and enable the patient to feel understood (Corner and Bailey, 2001). Treatment is associated with psychological distress including anxiety, depression, distress and mood swings (Kearney and Richardson, 2006).

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