first clinical- first patient assignment

[trishaevans]

My first patient as 1st semester nursing student in a 35 yr old male stay at home dad with 3 young kids. Recently diagnosed with ALL positive Philadelphia chromosomes. I want to go in giving him the best I can and most comfort I can. I'm reading about care for cancer patients as much as I can.Does anyone have experience and can tell me how to help them with comfort or emotions? My patient just learned about the diagnosis 5days ago and in going through chemotherapy Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Trisha

[loriangel14, RN]

Being there and listening to him talk would be a comfort. Perhaps ask if he has any questions or fears/emotions that need to be addressed.encourage him to express his feelings and include his familywhen he is talking about how he is feeling.Supplying him with information on what to expect (e.g.physical side effects of chemo) may help.

[krisiepoo]

as a first semester, first clinical nursing student I would assume your role there will be fairly limited. I know at first our assignments were generally doing assessments and talking to the patients and such. What are you going to be able to do per your instructor? I think that will say alot about the best care you can give him.

last semester I was on the oncology med/surg floor and it differed from patient to patient and how they were handling the meds. Some were extremely sick (one died 2 days later :/) and some had great attitudes and outlooks where others were ****** as hell that they were going through this. My biggest thing as a student was to build a repoire with them which you won't have any idea on how to do until you meet the person and understand them a little more. I would say go in with an open mind, an open heart, don't pity him, treat himl ike you would any other patient. ask HIM what he needs, how you can help him. I like to introduce myself and let them know they're super lucky cuz they now have 3 people ensuring they get the best of everything while I'm there (myself, instructor and RN)

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

Last semester, I had a patient with metastasized from his member to the lungs and bone. He had gone through three series of chemotherapy and the doctor realized it was pointless. Patient was end-stage. So, I had to figure out a way in using my nursing diagnosis of End of Life. Lets just say it was difficult trying to get my words across. Patient later that day decided that it was time to stop trying chemotherapy and he was placed in our palliative room with continuous morphine drip.

It's humbling and lets you realize that we as students, or people for that matter, do not have all of the answers. The best thing to do in my situation (and probably yours), is to let your patient talk.

[trishaevans]

Thank you for your responses!