How Situational Diagnosis Helps Disentangle Ethical and Psychological Features of Complex Cases.

We review Marguerite S. Lederberg's 1999 Acta Oncologica article entitled "Disentangling Ethical and Psychological Issues: A Guide for Oncologists," in which she introduces a method of analysis that facilitates clarification of ethical and psychological aspects of complex cases. Based on her understanding of the dynamics at play in patients', family members', and physicians' experiences, Lederberg formulated what she calls "situational diagnosis," a guide on how to distinguish ethical from psychological issues at the bedside or when an ethics consultation is requested.

Community-based participatory research through virtual communities.

Background: Over the last quarter century many new cyberspace platforms have emerged that facilitate communication across time, geographical distance and now even language. Whereas brick-and-mortar communities are defined by geographically local characteristics, a virtual community is an online community of individuals who socialize and connect around a common interest or theme using the Internet. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is a public health approach that requires equitable partnerships between community members and researchers.

Dietary Patterns in Puerto Rican and Mexican-American Breast Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Study.

Unlabelled: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women. Certain dietary factors have been associated with the risk of breast cancer recurrence, but data in Hispanic survivors is scarce.

Objective: to examine dietary patterns and diet quality in two groups of Hispanic breast cancer survivors.

Evaluating the frequency of vital sign monitoring during blood transfusion: an evidence-based practice initiative.

Patients with cancer are often dependent on blood transfusions during treatment. Frequent vital sign monitoring during transfusions may interrupt sleep and the patient's ability to ambulate or participate in unit activities. Relying heavily on vital sign findings may also overshadow unmeasurable symptoms of transfusion reaction.

Changing Nursing Practice in Survivorship Care With Clinical Decision Tools.

The paradigm shift to include survivorship care as part of the cancer care continuum underscores the critical need for a change in nursing practice. One way to ensure that change in practice is delivered in a safe and efficient manner is through the use of clinical decision tools (CDTs). Such tools can be used to increase relevant knowledge and skills of nurses and patients.

Mental illness and substance use problems in relation to homelessness onset.

Objectives: The relationships among youth (≤ 24 years) versus adult (>24 years) homelessness onset, lifetime serious mental illness, and substance use problems is not well understood. We sought to explore these associations among 394 homeless adults, 124 of whom reported youth-onset homelessness.

Methods: Covariate-adjusted logistic regression analyses evaluated the associations among homelessness onset, serious mental illness, and self-reported substance use problems.

Selection of optimal tobacco cessation medication treatment in patients with cancer.

Background: Tobacco use is responsible for almost half a million deaths per year in the United States, and it accounts for one-third of all cancer deaths. Limited data concerning tobacco treatment among patients with cancer are available. In addition, these patients often have complicated medical histories and are taking multiple medications.

The Ebola virus epidemic: Preparation, not panic.

The largest-ever outbreak and first epidemic of Ebola virus disease is affecting several West African countries. Early symptoms of Ebola can mimic those of other tropical diseases. In a world of rapid global travel, physician assistants need to be capable of identifying patients at greatest risk for developing Ebola.

Subjective social status and readiness to quit among homeless smokers.

Objectives: To explore the predictive value of subjective social status (SSS-US and SSS-Community) on readiness to quit among 245 homeless smokers.

Methods: Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted (stratified by sex).

Results: Higher SSS-US (p = .

Implementing a standardized home chemotherapy spill kit: a nurse-led interprofessional approach to best practice.

Chemotherapy administration in the home setting poses risks to patients, caregivers, and the environment, particularly in the event of spills. Although the response to chemotherapy spills in the hospital setting is vigorous and includes standard disposal practices for contaminated items, the management of spills in the home setting may vary. A standardized method for managing chemotherapy spills at home that includes education and distribution of spill cleanup materials is imperative to reduce these risks.

Management of steroid-induced hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients with cancer: a review.

Problem Identification: Glucocorticoids are prescribed for hospitalized patients with cancer for a variety of reasons, including cerebral edema, treatment and prevention of nausea, and as part of cancer treatment regimens. Glucocorticoids are known to cause hyperglycemia. The purpose of this study was to integrate the published research on the management and the effects of steroid-induced hyperglycemia in hospitalized adult patients with cancer with or without preexisting diabetes.

Hyperglycemic-inducing neoadjuvant agents used in treatment of solid tumors: a review of the literature.

Purpose/objectives: To review the literature regarding the development of hyperglycemia associated with neoadjuvant agents used in the treatment of solid tumor cancers.

Data Sources: Research articles were obtained from PubMed, CINAHL®, and Cochrane Reviews. The following search terms were used alone and in combination: diabetes, glycemic control, chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy, interferon-alpha, immunosuppressants, cancer, neoplasms, and hyperglycemia.

Transforming cancer survivorship care through quality improvement initiatives.

Oncology nurses must become better prepared to conduct quality improvement projects that will optimize quality of care and patient safety for long-term cancer survivors. The growing interest in survivorship care has led to the availability of multiple versions of cancer survivorship care plans (SCPs). Despite the availability of SCPs, research is lacking evidence-based processes to evaluate whether providers comply with planning and issuing SCPs.

Oncology nurses and indoor tanning: stylish or risky behavior?

Being tan has become a social norm, and some nurses engage in that widely accepted lifestyle. Mounting evidence of the increased risk to melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers associated with indoor tanning supports the need for nurses to integrate skin cancer education, counseling, and referrals into routine practice. The current article presents an overview of the risks associated with indoor tanning, discusses its acceptance as a social norm, and offers strategies to support oncology nurses in changing the widespread trend.

Care, compassion, and communication in professional nursing: art, science, or both.

Debate continues as to whether nursing is a science, art, or a combination of the two. Given the recent growing emphasis in the current healthcare environment to deliver patient-centered care, the art of nursing and its impact on patient outcomes is being re-examined. The current article discusses a case narrative to provide a venue for self-reflection in nursing practice.

Oncology nurses' knowledge of survivorship care planning: the need for education.

Purpose/objectives: To survey nurses about their knowledge of cancer survivorship care.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.

Setting: Midwestern comprehensive cancer center.

Optimizing Diagnostic Yield for EUS-Guided Sampling of Solid Pancreatic Lesions: A Technical Review.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has a higher diagnostic accuracy for pancreatic cancer than other techniques. This article will review the current advances and considerations for optimizing diagnostic yield for EUS-guided sampling of solid pancreatic lesions. Preprocedural considerations include patient history, confirmation of appropriate indication, review of imaging, method of sedation, experience required by the endoscopist, and access to rapid on-site cytologic evaluation.

Managing patients with indolent lymphoma treated with bendamustine: a nursing perspective.

Indolent lymphoma is one of the most frequently occurring subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Indolent NHL has a long natural history, and patients will likely receive multiple therapies during the course of their disease. Treatment options are rapidly evolving and, because oncology nurses play a major role in managing patients undergoing treatment for indolent NHL, they need to be aware of the potential adverse effects associated with new therapies that may affect patients in their care.

Call for action: caring for the United States' aging cancer survivors.

The United States is undergoing significant societal shifts that will have profound implications for the professional practice of oncology nurses, including the aging of the nation's baby boomers and an anticipated increase in cancer survivors. Understanding of the confluence of those factors and their impact on survivors' physical and psychological outcomes remains limited. Nurses may be aware of advances in general survivorship care but may not have the specific knowledge and skills to meet the distinctive needs of older adult cancer survivors.

Epstein-Barr virus infection and lymphoproliferative disorder after hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Common herpes viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) cause infection and disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder following allogeneic HCT is a rare but life-threatening disease, mostly associated with EBV-infected B cells. Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (e.

Identification of side effects associated with intolerance to BCR-ABL inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

Clinical intolerance occurs when the toxicity of a medication outweighs its clinical benefit. Early recognition of clinical intolerance to BCR-ABL inhibitors used for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is important for maximizing patient benefit. In CML, most side effects associated with BCR-ABL inhibitor therapy are mild and easily managed, so recognizing, monitoring, and addressing serious side effects may ensure optimal outcome.

Practical management of imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have an incidence of 7-15 occurrences per million people. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have significantly improved clinical outcomes as part of multidisciplinary disease management. The authors will review developments in the management of GISTs, including diagnosis, risk stratification, prognosis, and treatment with imatinib.