CANCER NURSING: A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR PRACTICE, 3RD EDITION

Course overview

This updated course covers many of the complexities of state-of-the-art cancer care. Cancer has in some ways become a chronic illness with many phases, signposts, and trajectories. Although some of the inroads being made in the fight against cancer are worthy of celebration, the situation is complicated. Cancer Nursing is intended for nurses caring for patients with cancer in any setting. The purpose of the course is to empower nurses to optimize patient outcomes by incorporating into their practice a solid foundation in their approach to care. Further, specialization in the many aspects of oncology nursing care is included and updated information for certification preparation is also provided. Course Objectives ¿Describe cancer trends in the United States and worldwide based on epidemiological statistics. ¿Describe what is currently known about carcinogenesis, cell biology, and tumor cell characteristics, that provides the foundation for approaches to cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. ¿Discuss therapeutic modalities to cancer treatment including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and selected target therapies. ¿Discuss common venous access devices and their care, maintenance, and problems associated with their use. ¿Discuss hematopoietic cell transplant (bone marrow and peripheral stem cell transplants) as treatments for selected cancers. ¿Recognize the most common side effects associated with cancer treatment, signs and symptoms of oncology emergencies, and the appropriate nursing interventions. ¿Describe risk factors, screening methods, symptoms and treatment of lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and skin cancer. ¿Describe how lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia are diagnosed and how each of these hematologic malignancies is treated. ¿Differentiate complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies and their role in the support of cancer patients during their treatments and in their overall well-being. ¿Identify psychosocial stressors and support strategies for cancer patients and families including issues affecting children, older patients, multicultural populations and cancer ¿survivors.¿ ¿Discuss important aspects of palliative care, including end-of-life care, the hospice model, pain management, and quality-of-life issues. ¿Identify selected professional issues important to oncology nursing including the role of the nurse in clinical trials and the use of technologies and innovations that influence the way healthcare information is being gathered and exchanged.