Patient safety is at the forefront of health care and nursing practice. Oncology nurses strive to provide safe oncologic care in their management of cancer, treatments, and side effects. Oncologic emergencies such as tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), however, are serious complications of cancer and cancer treatment. TLS often is seen in hematologic malignancies, such as lymphomas and leukemias, that frequently occur in older adults. As the population in the United States continues to age, nurses must be prepared to manage oncologic emergencies in older adults. Understanding the risk factors and preventive strategies for TLS provides oncology nurses with a foundation for managing a serious treatment complication. Patients and their caregivers need to understand the importance of preventive measures for TLS; therefore, patient education must be a critical part of the oncology nurse's plan of care.
Nurse-patient relationship
Oncology nurseBackground: The nurse-patient relationship represents a valuable connection in cancer care. Largely studied within inpatient settings, the nature and influence of this central relationship in ambulatory settings remain relatively unexamined. The notable shift to ambulatory settings like infusion centers warrants examination of the nurse-patient relationship in this context. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a grounded theory of the nurse-patient relationship in ambulatory cancer infusion care.Interventions/Methods: Using grounded theory methodology, 11 nurses were interviewed using a semistructured interview guide. Data collection continued until data saturation occurred with the primary concepts. Results: The grounded theory, entitled Seeking Common Ground, includes 6 primary concepts. The concepts "we are all human"; "we work in a busy, complex environment"; "we seek common ground with patients"; "we use connections to support meaningful encounters"; "we find meaning in the relationships created"; and "we are governed by the push and pull of time" abstract the nurse-patient relationship from the nurses' perspective, emphasizing fundamental human connections. Conclusions: The grounded theory Seeking Common Ground depicts the profound connection that nurses form with their patients in the ambulatory infusion setting. Underscoring the value of the nurse-patient relationship as foundational to the nursing profession must be driven through practice, education, and policy.
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