Colon or colorectal cancer (CRC), as it is commonly known is the second leading cause of cancer associated deaths in the US (National Cancer Institute, 2013). The power point presentation highlights the various evidence based practices that can be presented and used by nurses for the care of CRC patients. The author has also utilized universal nursing language terminology (NIC and NOC) pertinent to management and care of CRC. Nurses can participate in or provide one the following evidence-based practices relevant to care of colorectal cancer patients. These include education, screening, treatment and follow up care.
Nurses can practice various methods and tools to educate the patients to make lifestyle modifications that can result in prevention of or delay the development on this malignancy, especially in high risk population. Nurses should communicate with the patients and their families appropriately the various evidence-based screening guidelines and understand patient’s outlook that may cause non adherence to screening instructions (Torphy, Lymn &Glass, 2003).
Nurses should consult and collaborate with the patients, their family and physicians regarding the identification and selection of a specific treatment or combination most suitable for the CRC patients. The nurses educate the patients in care and practices associated with each form of treatment be it surgery, radiation or chemotherapy (American Cancer Society, 2013). It is vital to involve patients and families in every step of treatment and care to improve feeling of patient empowerment (Williams & Bakitas, 2012).
According to NANDA there three main diagnoses of CRC are a. Diarrhea, b. Imbalanced nutrition and c. Activity intolerance. Patients are to be informed about methods to minimize the number of bowel movement (BM), the importance of taking rest to lower diarrhea and proper hand hygiene following each BM. The nurses should recognize symptoms of malnutrition, its causes associated with CRC and methods to alleviate malnutrition such as providing parenteral nutrition. The nurses should inform the patients about debilitation in physical activity and strength associated with CRC and chemotherapy. Education should be provided that will help the patient improve their physical activity level, at the same time setting realistic expectations and goals.
Anxiety and feeling of powerlessness, fatigue, pain and knowledge deficit are other important diagnoses accepted by NANDA.
References
American Cancer Society (2013). Treatment by stage of colon cancer. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-treating-by-stage-colon
National Cancer Institute. (2013). Colon and rectal cancer. Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/colon-and-rectal
Torpy, J.M., Lynm, C., Glass, R.M. (2003) JAMA patient page. Colon cancer screening. JAMA. 289(10):1334.
Williams, A.L., Bakitas, M. (2012). Cancer family caregivers: a new direction for interventions. J Palliat Med. 15(7):775-83. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2012.0046.
