Cancer is a significant health problem in the UK today and according to Redfern and Ross (1999) is a major cause of mortality in the ageing population. Brooker and Nicol (2003) added that cancer is a medical diagnosis that covers the most distinctive diseases. Cancer Research Campaign (1999) highlighted that the most common people diagnose of cancer are those people over sixty years of age. Whilst Cancer Research UK (2004) states that sixty-five per cent of all cancer occurs in people over the age of sixty-five. Cancer is the most frightening disease and anyone can be diagnosed with it, regardless of their age. However, in this assignment the author will only be focusing on one aspect of nursing care for older adult. The author will focus on the palliative care for patients whose suffer from nausea and vomiting as a symptom of cancer.
[...] Nutrition of the Elderly. New York. Raven Press. Kaye, P. (1996). A-Z Pocketbook of symptom control. Northampton. EPL Publications. Kubler-Ross, E. (1970). On Death and Dying. London, Tavistock. In Lichter, I., and Hunt, E. (1990). The Last 48 Hours of Life. Palliative Care: 7-15. Mystakidou, K., Befon, S., Liossi, C., and Vlachos, L. (1998). Comparison of the efficacy and safety of tropisetron, metoclopramide and chlorpromazine in the treatment of emesis associated with advanced cancer. Cancer: 1214-23. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2004). [...]
[...] It is very important to address this issue to prevent poor oral care hygiene, as medications play a role in the production of dry mouth, especially some antihypertensive, antibiotics and cancer treatment such as chemo/radiotherapy causes irritation of oral mucosa (Camody and Forster 2003). On the other hand, palliative care for older people with cancer is the most fundamental for the healthcare professionals. Nurses play a vital role to care for a palliative care patients. Brooker and Nicol (2003) state, that the goal for palliative care is achievement of the best quality of life for patients and their families. [...]
[...] Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2004) state that nurses have a duty of care to the patients, and to receive safe and competent care. Dealing with cancer is a difficult process to cope with, plus dealing with nausea and vomiting would be a nuisance to the patients. Healthcare professionals should ensure that the patients are cared for in the best way possible to alleviate their illness. Preventing nausea and vomiting as a symptom could change the perceptions of patient's illness, such as the feeling of not being sick would be a relief for them. [...]
[...] Health care professional should acknowledge the wishes of the patients and families on where they want to die. To achieve this, healthcare professionals should work together to meet the patients and families care needs. These could include the needs of palliative specialists, doctors, hospital and community specialists and the education of the general nurses through specialist courses (Brooker and Nicol 2003). This could also involve with looking at their sociological psychological and spiritual care needs. Although, other healthcare professionals such as, (the doctors and physiotherapy) play a vital role in caring for palliative patients, nurses are in the front line to deliver best quality care. [...]
[...] Del Favero, A., Roila, F., and Tonato, M. (1993). Reducing chemotherapy- induced nausea and vomiting. Current perspectives and future possibilities. Drug Safety: 410-28. Department of Health (2004). National Service Framework: Building on the best: End of Life Care Initiative. London, Stationary Office. DoH. Dickerson, J.W.T., and Williams, C. (1988). Nutrition and Cancer: in Dickerson, J.W.T., and Lee, H.A. (eds). Nutrition in the Clinical Managements of Disease. London, Edward Arnold. Faull, C., and Woof, R. (2002). Palliative Care. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine. Oxford, Oxford University Press. [...]
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