The Role of Health Care Promotion in the Practice of Oncology Nursing

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Oncology nurses participate in a collaborative practice with the care team personnel to offer best quality management of cancer patients. The nurses are also regularly involved in promoting the nursing practice in various ways, such as research, systematic education and advanced learning (Rieger and Yarbro, 2003). An oncology nurse caters for both the patients of cancer, as well as people at risk of developing the disease. They monitor the patient’s physical state, give prescriptions and administer chemotherapy. This is one of the most challenging and at the same time rewarding fields in the nursing practice. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of health care promotion in the practice of oncology nursing. The first part will be a discussion on the role of oncology nursing, the history and future direction as well as the rewards and challenges. The second part will examine the role of health promotion in the Canadian healthcare system and the nursing’s role in health promotion. The final part will examine how health promotion can be applied in oncology nursing.

Discussion

The oncology nurse operates in various settings, such as radiation therapy facilities, ambulatory care clinics and in acute care hospitals and community agencies. Their roles vary from focusing on the intensive bone marrow transplantation care to community screening, detection and prevention of cancer. They also have a role in assessment of patients, providing patient education, direct patient care, managing symptoms and supportive care. Their clients include the cancer patients, and their families (Rieger and Yarbro, 2003). In the role of direct patient care within an inpatient setting, oncology nurses are responsible for coordinating patient ca...

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...or in conducting literature research (CANO, 2013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, oncology nurses work together with other medical personnel to enhance the positive management of cancer patients. They have major roles, which include monitoring the patient’s health and prescribing their treatment, as well as administering chemotherapy. Their occupation is both rewarding and challenging at the same time. It helps them to make positive changes in a patient’s life and creates interrelationships between them, the patients and the families. The occupation is also emotionally challenging as they have to witness the daily struggles of the patients and the desperation and worry of the patients’ families. Health care promotion in oncology nursing can help to establish new research on cancer treatment and provide patient information to help improve the health of the patients.

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