Question

Scenario:

The RN is developing a plan of care for a 35-year-old female, newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Assessment findings include: the patient is teary and states, “I haven’t been sleeping since the diagnosis.” The patient doesn’t make eye contact, has difficulty sitting still and her voice is trembling. Her mucous membranes are dry and she says she has not had an appetite. She says, “I don’t know if I am going to need surgery to remove my breasts. I don’t know how it will make me feel or look”.

Initial Discussion Post:

Develop a 3-part actual nursing diagnostic statement, related to therapeutic communication, stress and adaptation OR patient teaching. Use the patient data in the scenario, including the problem, etiology and symptoms.

Develop a patient specific, measurable outcome with a time-frame, appropriate for your chosen diagnosis and this patient.

Explain why this diagnosis is a priority for this patient.

Discuss which techniques of therapeutic communication would be useful for this patient. Consider both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Answer 1

Nursing diagnosis

Anxiety related to the newly diagnosed breast cancer as manifeated by trembling voice, dry mucous membrane, poor appetite and insomnia.

Outcome- Patient will relate an increase in psychological and physiologic comfort soon after a therapeutic communication with the nurse.

This diagnosis is priority for the patient as the patient is newly diagnosed with cancer.

These are some of the therapeutic techniques useful for this patient

Active listening- To reduce patients anxiety, by giving chance to open up all her feelings

Informing- Informing that cancer can be cured, explaining various treatment options

Non verbal communication includes

Proper Eye contact

Therapeutic touch