The role of the breast care nurse in patient and family care

Abstract

This study further delineates the important role that the nurses play in caring for patients and families during a critical time of their life. It extends further the frequency and importance of the supportive care and the need to educate their nurses on their role in providing spiritual care and research.

Timing and Mode of Breast Care Nurse Consultation From the Patient’s Perspective

“…Evidence in the literature shows that the BCN is an integral member of the interprofessional team caring for patients undergoing breast surgery Halkett et al, 2006;Luck et al, 2017). The current study suggests that the timing of a patient's first consultation with a BCN and the mode of that consultation are determinants of the patient's overall outcomes, particularly in the areas of understanding diagnosis and treatment, feeling psychosocially supported, and receiving relevant practical support.…”

“…However, Halkett, Arbon, Scutter, and Borg (2006) have reported the importance that patients place on the BCN role while they are being treated; they described how patients found BCNs to provide important support throughout their treatment. Luck, Chok, Scott, and Wilkes (2017) described the importance of the BCN role from the perspective of BCNs, highlighting the part they play in sharing clinical expertise through providing patient education, coordinating care, and advocating for patients. However, the study failed to explore the patient perspective of receiving BCN support, which may differ from the perspective of BCNs delivering support.…”

“…Respondents who experienced a face-to-face consultation reported it to be superior regarding the amount of information they received about their cancer and treatment from the BCN, compared to those who experienced a telephone consultation. Sharing knowledge and providing education are reported to be key aspects of the BCN role (Dickerson et al, 2011;Luck et al, 2017). Face-to-face and telephone consultations provided an opportunity for preoperative support, with respondents stating that they were grateful for advice regarding postsurgical emotional care (such as access to support group information) and practical support (such as brassieres and prostheses).…”

“…Respondents who did not have a preoperative consultation tended to report a lack of understanding regarding their treatment, further illuminating the unmet needs of women (Akechi et al, 2011;Fiszer et al, 2014;Watts et al, 2011). In addition, respondents who did not receive a preoperative consultation had clear ideas of what a preoperative consultation with a BCN could have provided them, reporting that they felt they had missed out on an opportunity for further education and emotional and practical support Luck et al, 2017).…”

Breast Care Nursing in the World and Turkey

“…According to the results of the study, the findings showed that breast care nurses should be included in the multidisciplinary breast cancer team. [16] In a study evaluating the roles of breast care nurses the as patient advocate, patient trainer, care coordinator and clinical expert roles, conducted by Luck et al [17] were determined in line with the theme. They reported that breast care nurses have important roles and functions in the maintenance process and the importance of supportive care frequency.…”