Question

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

Solution: Anxiety related to new diagnosis of breast cancer as evidenced by restlessness, fear of unspecified consequences, dry mucous membrane and lack of sleep.

Outcome: Patient is able to compose herself and sleep peacefully in two days time.

The patient needs to be relieved from anxiety so that she can accept the diagnosis and continue with the treatment plan.

Generally communication with cancer patients was particularly challenging in many cases, so both the verbal and non verbal therapeutic communication techniques that promote quality care.