Question

The patient has lost both parents and two grandparents to the same cancer. The patient is seeking a problem-focused strategy to address her concern about being diagnosed with and dying from the same cancer. Explain two problem based coping strategies the nurse could teach the patient to use.

Answer 1

Problem based coping mechanism is a technique to reduce the stress about a subject in practical ways that help to solve the problem, thereby reducing stress.

The strategies that the nurse could teach are the following ::-

A. Problem solving:- The patient over here is in apprehension about the probability of acquiring the cancer from their grandparents. As a nurse, giving them proper knowledge about the mode of inheritance of the cancer and actual research based statistics on the probability of acquiring the same will be useful. The nurse should also explain the different mechanisms of inheritance of different type of cancer and the fact that not all cancers are transmitted by genes. The nurse should also explain the other risk factors for acquiring cancer like environmental factors, socio-personal factors like smoking; alcoholism; lifestyle and exercises etc. The nurse should draw a pedigree chart with plotting the actual statistics and putting forward the chances of her getting the cancer.

B. Time Management- It is an important strategy. As per the proverb says, " An idle mind is a dangerous place to be left in", thoughts of less importance comes up more frequently when we do nothing. So, the nurse should advise the patient to get back to the normal schedule of her daily life and to keep themselves busy. It should also be advised to engage in some recreational activities and keep their minds fresh. The negative thoughts will fade away with more aerobic activities and distraction. The nurse should expain the impotance if life to the patient and to boost his confidence by living each and every moment of their life to the fullest.