Cancer Patients’ Perceptions of the Good Nurse: a Literature Review

Abstract

This article discusses findings from a mixed method literature review that investigated cancer patients' perceptions of what constitutes a good nurse. To find pertinent articles, we conducted a systematic key word search of five journal databases (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008). The appli cation of carefully constructed inclusion criteria and critical appraisal identified 12 relevant articles. According to the patients, good nurses were shown to be characterized by specific, but inter-related, attitudes, skills and knowledge; they engage in person-toperson relationships, respect the uniqueness of patients, and provide support. Professional and trained skills as well as broad and specific nursing and non-nursing knowledge are important. The analysis revealed that these characteristics nurtured patient well-being, which manifests as optimism, trust, hope, support, confirmation, safety and comfort. Cancer patients' perceptions of what constitutes a good nurse represent an important source of knowledge that will enable the development of more comprehensive and practice-based views on good nursing care for such patients. These perceptions help us to understand how nurses effectively make a difference in cancer patient care.

Are patient–nurse relationships in breast cancer linked to adult attachment style?

“…In particular, research conducted with people from Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA has all found that patients describe good patient-nurse relationships as encompassing trust, emotional support and being treated as an individual and as allowing them to feel secure enough to depend on and share their fears with the nurse (Ramos 1992, P alsson & Norberg 1995, Deeny & McGuigan 1999, Coffey 2006, Dowling 2008, Rchaidia et al 2009, Beaver et al 2010, Kristiansen et al 2010, Remmers et al 2010. If the nursepatient relationship has characteristics of an attachment relationship, we should expect that patients' attachment models would influence their experience of the relationship.…”

Cancer Patients’ Experiences of Their Personal Strengths Through Illness and Recovery

“…Cancer patients have consider good communication based on trust and being seen as important aspects of highquality nursing. 23,24,26 These care characteristics promote their dignity. 26,27 Trust, which usually entails a transition of power to a person (eg, a nurse) or a system (eg, a hospital) to act on one's behalf, must be shared to be maintained.…”

A context analysis of student training records dating from the 1950/1960s: What were desirable and undesirable student nurse characteristics?

“…For example, Rchaidia et al (2008) in a Belgium study found that cancer patients' perceptions of good nurses were very much focused into how caring nurses are and the importance of person-to-person relationships and compassionate care that nurtures patients' well-being. In a Polish study Marcinowicz et al (2009) examines the attributes that medical students consider important for nurses.…”