CPD articles
Our continuing professional development (CPD) articles are designed to assist with your nursing skills and practice.
A nurse-led review of patient experience for development of quality services
A systematic approach for nurses at any level or experience to engage with service evaluation
Enhancing well-being and building resilience in people living with cancer part 2: a...
Receiving a new diagnosis of cancer or of its recurrence is distressing and there are increasing numbers of people living with the disease, some taking continuous treatment, as well as others who have been cured. Living with cancer and the possibility of recurrence requires psychological strength to deal with the treatment, effects of the illness and uncertainty about the future. The attributes of self-efficacy and psychological well-being can reduce the effects of chronic stress. Excellent symptom control is essential and fatigue, the most prevalent and often most distressing symptom for those with cancer, requires targeted support. Well-being and psychological resilience may be improved by specific actions and psychological approaches, some of which are encompassed by Foresight Mental Capital and Well-being Project’s (2008) five ways to well-being framework, which can be used to deliver personalised care. This is the second of a two-part article that reviews interventions promoting well-being and resilience in patients living with cancer. It describes the framework and suggests practical ways in which clinicians can integrate it and other interventions into clinical practice. It also offers time out exercises and a multiple choice quiz to aid readers’ learning and test their knowledge.
Developing best practice cancer treatment summary templates
There is increasing recognition of the importance of making the Recovery Package available to more people affected by cancer. The cancer treatment summary is one of the core components of the Recovery Package and aims to improve communication between secondary and primary care, and help patients manage their care following treatment. The Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Cancer Alliance is developing a suite of best practice treatment summary templates for each cancer site to improve the quality of the information in the documents, and to support cancer teams to begin the process of introducing them to practice.
Oral vinorelbine: a practical approach to patient management
Oral vinorelbine has been a well-established cytotoxic treatment for non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic breast cancer since 2004. This article summarises the applications of the drug, the advantages and challenges of using an oral agent in palliative oncology settings and how oral vinorelbine has been used to develop nurse-led services and chemotherapy outside traditional hospital environments. The article includes two case studies to place this treatment in a clinical context.
Advance care planning: considerations for clinical practice
Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of establishing a person’s preferences and wishes, which can then be used to inform future care. These conversations are often held with a healthcare professional and may include a family member. ACP is one method of promoting person-centred care and respecting choice when a person may have lost capacity and be unable to communicate what matters to them. This article aims to explore the advantages of, and challenges to, the ACP process in the context of end of life care. It examines the practicalities of establishing patients’ preferences and wishes from a clinical perspective. Fictitious case studies based on numerous clinical encounters are used to illustrate the complexities of this process.
Practical experience with rituximab subcutaneous
Treatment regimens involving the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab are the standard of care for patients with CD20-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It has conventionally been given by intravenous (IV) infusion, which requires intermittent patient monitoring during administration. A subcutaneous (SC) formulation is also available for the treatment of NHL, which takes less time to administer and could simplify treatment. With the newer formulation available, there is an ongoing need for education and understanding from the patient’s and the healthcare professional’s perspective. The authors review their personal experience of rituximab IV and SC formulations together with data on their safety, and provide an overview of the use of SC formulation in daily nursing practice.
Use of olaparib in BRCA mutation-positive ovarian cancer
Nurses should understand the role and purpose of the new generation of therapies available for patients with cancer. One such drug is the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza™▼). As it becomes available, it will be important for nurses to understand how it works, how to anticipate any side effects and how to manage these effectively. This article describes the importance of BRCA gene mutations in women with ovarian cancer and introduces olaparib, a targeted agent for use in these women in accordance with its label indication.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: update and nursing considerations
This article provides nurses with an update on diagnosis, management and care of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a complex group of disorders of the bone marrow. MDS has wide-ranging effects on patients’ lives. Understanding the effect of a diagnosis of MDS on patients’ quality of life is an important part of the nursing role and includes consideration of physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing. Many treatment options are available and nurses can educate patients on recognising and managing side effects. While there have been promising developments in management, nurses should ensure that patients and their families have a realistic understanding of MDS and ensure that they are aware that treatments other than haematopoietic stem cell transplantation are non-curative.
Reducing medication errors in nursing practice
Medication errors remain one of the most common causes of unintended harm to patients. They contribute to adverse events that compromise patient safety and result in a large financial burden to the health service. The prevention of medication errors, which can happen at every stage of the medication preparation and distribution process, is essential to maintain a safe healthcare system. One third of the errors that harm patients occur during the nurse administration phase: administering medication to patients is therefore a high-risk activity. This article highlights factors that contribute to medication errors, including the safety culture of institutions. It also discusses factors that relate specifically to nurses, such as patient acuity and nursing workload, the distractions and interruptions that can occur during medication administration, the complexity of some medication calculations and administration methods, and the failure of nurses to adhere to policies or guidelines.
Supporting delivery of the recovery package for people living with and beyond cancer
Survivorship is an important issue in cancer care in the UK. More people are being diagnosed with the disease and many more are living for longer after diagnosis. The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative recommends that patients with cancer have a package of care designed to improve outcomes and support for those living with and beyond the disease. The recovery package consists of a holistic needs assessment, treatment summary, cancer care review and health and wellbeing event. Although these interventions are recommended as a way to improve care, many people do not have access to the combined package, or even some of its components. The Cancer Nursing Partnership (CNP), a collaboration of cancer nursing organisations and communities of influence, has been established to support nurses with delivery of the recovery package in practice. This article describes the package and its components, introduces the CNP and outlines the work it has carried out to date.
An overview of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative malignancies with differing patterns of behaviour and responses to treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplantation are the main treatment modalities, but targeted therapies such as monoclonal antibodies are improving survival. The complex nature of the disease, and different treatment pathways, mean that nurses working in this area need in-depth knowledge to provide patient education, continuity of care and advice on current treatment options, as well as to ensure an optimal patient journey.
Promoting quality of life for patients with myeloma
This article aims to provide nurses with an update of best practice in caring for patients living with a diagnosis of myeloma. Targeted treatments for myeloma have resulted in extended survival for patients. However, extended survival results in disease- and treatment-related side effects that have a profound effect on patients’ quality of life. Nurses can support patients to manage their illness and treatment, and promote an improved quality of life.