Caring for patients with cancer in non-specialist wards: the nurse experience

Abstract

This study aims to describe the experiences of nurses caring for cancer patients in non-specialist wards. The study was conducted in a large (420 beds) and small (32 beds) hospital in an area health service with urban and rural populations in the west of Sydney. A qualitative descriptive approach was utilized to collect data from the nurses. Data were collected using a survey and in-depth interviews of nurses working in non-specialist cancer wards. Transcribed data were managed with Nudist Vivo software and analysed for common themes using process of constant comparison and contrast. Twenty-five surveys were returned and five nurses volunteered to be interviewed. The six major themes that emerged from analysis of data were: emotional nature of care, lack of time, lack of knowledge of cancer treatment, family support, environment not conducive to proper care and dealing with patient's non-acceptance of cancer diagnosis. The nurses in this study wished to provide quality supportive care for cancer patients and their families but the inconducive environment and inadequate relevant training hindered the nurses' efforts. This then presents further need of relevant training for nurses in cancer care and time management, to meet up with these challenges.

Emotional Intelligence and Coronary Heart Disease: How Close Is the Link?

“…The particular finding is similar with the results of a study by Mohan et al (2005) which compared urban and rural population in Sydney, Australia. They reported that the provision of the nursing care, for patients with cancer and their families at non-specialist hospital ward setting, was confronting and emotionally draining.…”

Identifying Factors Significant to Continuity in Basic Palliative Hospital Care—From the Perspective of Patients with Advanced Cancer

“…Four discourses have been observed on hospital wards' caring, noncaring, curing, and organization that incorporates nursing in the medically dominated context and limits the development of nursing care-related core tasks (Dahlborg-Lyckhage & Lidén, 2010). From a nursing perspective, the conditions for providing palliative care on a hospital ward are perceived as being restrictive and also characterized by nurses' insufficient knowledge about cancer treatment, lack of competence to provide psychosocial support to the patient and family, being overworked, and an inappropriate physical environment (Gill & Duffy, 2010;Mohan, Wilkes, Ogunsiji, & Walker, 2005). Nurses deal with these factors by allocating time to direct patient care based on a prioritization of what they perceive as quality levels of nursing, defined as "selective focusing" (Williams, 1998).…”

Palliative Radiotherapy Knowledge Among Community Family Physicians and Nurses

“…[28][29][30] Both primary care nurses and family physicians are caring for most patients with advanced cancer, [14][15][16][17][18]27 and referral for radiotherapy is made when it is considered to be required. Health care professionals making referrals can benefit from knowledge of effective options for the treatment of oncologic symptoms.…”

“…13 Although most referrals come through physicians, nurses are often involved in the day-to-day care of patients with advanced cancer, whether in patients' homes, nursing homes, or palliative care facilities. [16][17][18] Facilitating good communication between physicians and nurses would likely increase referral for PR once an indication was identified by nursing staff. 19 It has previously been shown that knowledge and end-of-life care can be improved through palliative care education for both nurses and physicians.…”