Nurses Role in Lung Cancer Treatment - Coursework Example

Lung Cancer (Name) (University) Lung Cancer Introduction The demographical change in healthcare consumers showcases the profile of an ageing population, typified by related growth in the number of individuals suffering from chronic health conditions. This tantamount to the integration of preferred management practices for patients suffering from chronic health problems. Simply put, chronic health condition is a term used to describe chronic diseases, disabilities and illnesses. Subject to its prolonged duration, these conditions do not resolve spontaneously and are rarely cured completely. Evidently, chronic diseases are complex and are divergent with respect to their nature, causes and the extent of their effects on the wider community. Whereas some of the chronic diseases have a significant contribution to premature deaths, others showcase their contribution to disability (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012, p.2). While the management of lung cancer is imperative, this paper confronts, the inclusion of best practices in managing a patient suffering from lung cancer is paramount. A tentative description of present practices of management will be highlighted in this regard. Overview of Chronic Health Conditions Statistics reveals that almost 80 percent of Australians are suffering from one or more comorbid chronic conditions (Gardner & Gardner, 2014, p. 2). This figure has increased to about 100 % of the elderly population. Evidently, an increased number of chronic diseases were witnessed in over 20 % hospital facilities in the episodes of care. Most of the cases in this population were Australians aged over 65 years (Gardner & Gardner, 2014, p. 2). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has outlined 12 chronic diseases that have considerably impacted the Australian healthcare system. These include; kidney disease, chronic, asthma, osteoporosis arthritis, chronic kidney disease, colorectal cancer, oral disease, cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Gardner & Gardner, 2014, p. 2). Characteristics that are frequent with lung cancer conditions include a long development cycle, multifaceted causality with multiple attributes that result in their onset, prolonged diseases that may lead to other health problems such as associated functional impairments. Although some of the problems may last indefinitely, others may result in premature death and lead to disability (Gardner and Gardner, 2014, p. 3). In this respect, lung cancer is defined as a lengthy process and slow respiratory disease, characterised by a number of features namely; residual disability and nonreversible pathological alteration, which necessitates for adequate and special training for the profession or may be expected to be subjected to lengthy supervisions. The global concern, given the implication of an ever increasing ageing population of lung cancer health condition, presupposes the need for adequate prevention and management of chronic diseases. Discussions made within various states present the need to address such problems, with an aim of preventing risk factors, management of risk factors and diseases, effective management of chronic patients and the prevention of further complication. Best Practices for Lung Cancer Palliative Care Palliative medicine is central to cancer treatment. Simply put, it is a special cancer that is equally effective as anticancer, immunotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Palliative medicine should be provided throughout the patient’s diagnosis to its terminal stages. This integrates supportive therapy carried out during the treatment (Koczywas, Harrington, Ferrell & Grannis, 2011, p. 403). Managing the pain symptom is its signature strength which necessitates a whole personal approach, which addresses physical, mental, social and spiritual pain (Tsao et al, 2012, p. 220 : Rades et al, 2013, p. 899). Studies in the past decade have been done with an aim of the determining the effects of early introduction of palliative care in cancer. Through Temel’s clinical trials regarding a subsequent introduction of palliative care on QOL for patients suffering from metastatic NSCLC (Koczywas, Harrington, Ferrell & Grannis, 2011, p. 404; Rodrigues et al., 2013, p 104). The results favoured the patients that were subjected to the early introduction of palliative care where reduced depressive symptoms were evidenced (Koczywas, Harrington, Ferrell & Grannis, 2011, p. 405). Supportive care and the palliative care are an imperative aspect when handling patient throughout the treatment process (Chow et al., 2012, p. 2). Palliative care is a concept coined in the last decade in response to supportive care needs that are in line with the development of life-threatening diseases. It consolidates divergent concept in the cancer trajectory. It is defined as a medical care offered by an interdisciplinary teams which include professional nursing, social work , chaplaincy, nursing assistant among other health professions ; centred on the relief of suffering and dispensing best possible quality care (National Quality Forum, 2011, p. 3). Given the increased number of health complication that a patient experiences, the alleviation of such discomfort necessities for divergent treatment approach that are acceptable within the palliation goals (Kirb, Broom, Good, 2013, p. 11). A decrease in quality present health impacts namely: those caused by metastases, those resulting from primary tumor, those resulting from paraneoplastic syndromes and those caused by treatments (Kirb, Broom, Good, 2014, p. 153). In this respect, symptoms management begins with the conversation between the patient and the provider, where an important assessment is made in the patient’s symptom (Kirb, Broom, Good, 2014, p. 278). Various strategies can be used in treating patients with lung cancer. Two effective strategies include: Palliative Radiation This strategy is a of therapy can be used in the course of lung cancer, or as an independent treatment approach (Nieder et al., 2013, p. 728). Radiation therapy can be used as a primary treatment approach to lung cancer, notably in cases where surgery is not important, advanced stage, location of the tumour or patient preference. Its treatment approach is significant since it can alleviate multiple illnesses - palliative benefit for pain alleviation from the brain, spine and bone metastases (Craighead & Chan, 2012, p. 282). Relieving pain is equally important when caring for cancer patients. Palliative Chemotherapy The effectiveness of this strategy is that it can be used to increase survival where it can alleviate pain in some cases. Thisstrategy uses chemotherapy to alleviate symptoms. Its tentative effectiveness is achieved through its balance in using chemotherapy in alleviating pain and reversing the disease, at the same time monitoring the patient closely. Multi-Disciplinary Care Cancer can present numerous complex situations. Given the large numbers of practitioners, error and poor communication is eminent (Melissa, Blazeby, Strong, Carroll, Ness, Hollingworth, 2013, p. 13). In this respect, MDC has been singled out as a potential enabler in the dispensation of high-quality treatment and care for the patients. Simply put, this approach involves the use of teams in the treatment planning, care and follow-up for the patients (Drageset, Corbett, Selbaek & Husebo, 2014, p. 700). Contrariwise, it describes an integrated approach to healthcare in which, relevant treatment approach has considered. As such, through combined efforts a collaborative care treatment is offered to the patient. Lamb advocates that MDTs considerably improve communication, decision-making and coordination between the professional when considering the treatment alternatives for the patients (Lamb et al., 2011, p. 2117). In order to ensure that relevant personnel are present in the management of a cancer patient, MDT necessitates for an effective organisation, funding and management (NSW Department of Health, 2011, p. 3). The inclusion of team players is essential in overseeing an effective coordination within the participants. The radiological and pathological instruments are one such example. Its effectiveness is based on divergent factors that actively contribute towards its integration into a value-based care. Arguably, MDT decisions have resulted in revisions of cancer diagnoses and the treatment plans for new cases (Lamb et al., 2011, p. 2117; Goolam-Hossen et al., 2011, p. 470). These new approaches are inclined in evidenced based guidelines (Boxer, 2011, p. 5113). Additional studies have articulated that MDT can significantly reduce diagnosis (8910). Higher satisfaction levels can be achieved through such an approach. The concept of MDC is not new, however through the inclusion of various additional attributes it has evolved over time to a more superior approach to healthcare management (NSW Department of Health, 2011, p. 5). In recent years, this approach has been used as a standards care unit for cancer management. Its relative potential to enhance clinical improvement was realised more than 30 years ago. The late 90’s witnessed its inclusion in clinical practise, which created an increased uptake of MDC; supported by national and international clinical approach (Boxer, 2011, p. 5113). Evidently, MDC’s effectiveness was coined from its relative dependence in treating breast cancers. In a research conducted by 294 specialists in the field of breast cancer, it was evident that 90 % of the respondents articulated its effectiveness in planning of treatment (Kesson, 2012, p. 345). Other studies have showcased a tentative practical benefit of using MDC in the cancerous treatment (Kesson, 2012, p. 345). Team processes are seen to affect team performance given the divergent attributes of the model in use. Zapka’s model presupposes that if the interfaces existing between treatment care are radically improved, it will create a potential improvement in both patient care outcomes and the quality of care (Kesson, 2012, p. 5). Additional literature suggests that MDC teams are indispensable in this structure since they improve integrative healthcare, as well as, collaborative health care. Kesson argues that healthcare teams lack the propensity to realise team performance and inconsistent empirical results (Kesson, 2012, p. 7). Nevertheless, there is insufficient evidence linking the team’s performance and clinical effectiveness. In this respect, different conceptual frameworks used in assessing performance have been highlighted; i. Team functioning conceptualised as team process variables like conflicts and coordination mechanism ii. The team’s quality service; showcased through accuracy, productivity, timelessness and goal achievement Strategies for MDC Multidisciplinary Clinics A strategy that involves multidisciplinary clinics, typified by a mix of various health professionals can be used when treating the patients. Integrating a mix of the multidisciplinary clinics is effective since each health aspects are addressed accordingly. In this respect, the patient’s health will be checked holistically, hence addressing every health complication individually. Subjecting individual health complication to specific health professional enables The second strategy follows Zapka’s model of care. This strategy assumes that each patient undergoes different types of care after diagnosis. Regular meeting aimed at discussing the patient’s care plan effectively. This involves the incorporation of a team of nurses and health practitioners. In this way, the MDC team can facilitate communication and address the patient’s physical and psychological therapies. This approach employs a post treatment survivorship care. Nurse’s Role in Lung Cancer Treatment In exploring the nurse’s role in the treatment, a crucial aspect of the service is the creation of the nurse-patient relationship (Grady, 2011, p. 208). Preferred transition to patient care necessitates a higher level of the patient’s psychological robustness. Nurses are tasked with caring for an emotional burden and fatigue (Kirb, Broom, Good, 2014, p. 152). For nurses, the creation of appropriate emotion is important and an instrumental factor that can be challenging (Grady, 2011, p. 209). Communicating with the patient is often crucial in the effecting care, where such communications are typified by complex scenarios (Kirb, Broom, Good, 2014, p. 152). Developing such skill sets is tantamount to the very basis of preferred quality healthcare. Addressing the patient’s needs is done in a delicate manner that augments the patient’s quality of life in various dimensions. Improving the patient’s comfort within any healthcare environment is equally important; where the nurses realise such facilitation. Pain and Symptom Management Nurses function to alleviate pain and suffering by consolidating an effective and appropriate pain management plan that improves a patient’s QOL. A systematic and appropriate management to pain and symptom is instrumental for end of life care which covers common aspects that are expressed by dying patients (Hanratty, Lowson, Holmes, 2012, p. 27; Arnold, 2011, p. 1). Arguably, the nursing profession necessitates for a profound knowledge of healthcare and skills that addresses multiple patient aspects. Augmenting the nurse’s skills in this role can create adaptive response when addressing new cases (Anderson, Kools, Lyndon, 2013, p. 7). Tentatively, adding value to the present care systems will enhance the quality of care experienced by such facilities. Empowering nurse in their existing roles will not only improve their skill sets, but it also attunes them to modern practices. Conclusively, the best practices of managing lung cancer include palliative care and multidiscipline care. The focus of MDC in advanced lung cancer necessitates the consolidation of a broad range staff. The highest aspiration of its inclusion in reducing death is far from possible. Nevertheless, it has demonstrated numerous assumed benefits that include; coordination, consistency, cost-effective care, clinical outcomes, satisfaction and the psychological well-being of the patient’s under the care. Two strategies are followed when delivering this care namely; Multidisciplinary Clinics and Zapka’s model of care. On the other hand, the integration of managing lung cancer through palliative care is effective since patients suffering from lung cancer experience coughs throughout the early phases of the treatment cycle, chest pains from wall infiltration, as well as , bone metastasis at the middle phase and mental symptoms at later stages. Two palliative care strategies are identified namely; palliative Chemotherapy and palliative Radiation. The nurse’s are tasked to care for the patients within emotional and intimate, as well as, managing pain throughout the care. Alleviating a patient’s quality of life advocates for the nurse’s emotional availability. It is imperative therefore to empower the nurses with additional skills that enable them to handle the patient’s emotional situation, since it adds value to the quality of care. References Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2012). Risk factors contributing to chronic disease. Cat No. PHE 157. Canberra: AIHW Arnold, B. (2011). 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