Can Neutropenic Cancer Patients Be Nursed Effectively Nursing Essay

Can Neutr consecrateic crabmeat Patients Be Nursed Effectively Nursing EssayOn my clinical rotation I switch honord that oncology endurings are being suckled in wards which have patients with early(a)(a) conditions. just about of the oncology patients were severely neutropenic. This poses a greater assay for contagious diseases since the white blood cells needed to fight infection is very low. It has been far-famed that patients with infectious diseases such(prenominal) as tuberculosis are being reserved on the same ward, along with burn patients and human immunodeficiency virus patients. It was observed just that the most neutropenic patients were being prohibition nursed. However it was still observed that many an(prenominal) times members of cater entered the room without wearing a mask or washing their advances and most of the times the patient as well wore no mask. The disinfecting staff also entered the rooms and neated without wearing masks and would somet imes clean an infectious persons room prior to cleaning the cigarettecer patient room. These observations have led me to ask the call into question whether neutropenic cancer patients can be efficaciously nursed on a ward with others patients of contagious illnesses.This issue is meaningful to oncology breast feeding and cancer care since it addresses the practices of nursing and also plays an important ramify in patient outcomes.It has been estimated that each year in the United States thither were sixty thousand cases of cancer patients hospitalized with neutropenia. About two thirds of that chassis has describe infections and the estimated inpatient mortality rate of those patients is seven percent (Segal, 2008).Infections also comprise hospitals a lot of money that could be spent on other health issues. It was estimated that infections have added thirty billion dollars to the US hospital damage while consumers also have to pay part of the cost (McCaughey, 2005).A search was carried out using internet data bases and articles were found which lends fill-in to the economic consumption of barrier nursing and other methods as effective tools in infection control.Barrier Nursing is nursing a patient so as to erect a barrier to the passage of infectious morbific organisms between the contagious patient and other patients and staff in the hospital, and wherefore to the outside world (Last, 2010).It involves the use of having the patient isolated in a separate room and if not possible they are screened on an open ward. The nurse would wear a gown, mask and gloves when attending to the patient and observe strict hand washing and aseptic techniques (Last, 2010).Reverse barrier nursing or protective isolation is where the susceptible patient is isolated to keep them from getting infections. It involves limiting the number of staff and visitors that interact with the patient in particular if they are ill. It also involves limiting attending to a contagio us patient then attending to the immunocompromised patient. All staff should be apprised of the precautions and the doors should be appropriately labeled (The Leeds Teaching Hospital, 2003).According to the American Cancer Society (2009), neutropenia is described as a deficiency of neutrophils. Neutrophils are the largest number of white bloods cells in the body and are crucial to the bodys defense dust. Some cancers such as the lymphomas and some leukemias directly affect the immune corpse and causes low blood counts. In other cases the cancer treatment current such as chemotherapy and radiation results in damage to the immune system (American Cancer Society, 2009).When the immune system is damaged or suppressed it is referred to as immunosupression. When this occurs the white blood cells especially neutrophils are unable to fight tally infections and the person is highly susceptible to getting an infection. Infections can be caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi (Am erican Cancer Society, 2009).Some studies have suggested that proper hand hygiene by the patient and the nurse along with immunization, antifungal and bacteriacide prophylaxis have show to be the most effective methods of infection control. Avoiding strive with persons who are ill with respiratory illnesses has also been suggested (Zitella, Friese, Hauser, Gobel, Woolery, OLeary and Andrews, 2006).The Center for Disease withstand recommends hand washing as the most important means of ranch infection especially in susceptible populations such as the immunocompromised. It is also important between different patients in high risk units such as between cancer patients and HIV patients (LeTexier, 2000).Other studies have suggested that barrier nursing is needed for all immunocompromised patients. Some infections are seen largely in certain disease populations for example Candida infections are found in many HIV patients. However the question of whether neutropenic patients should be housed close to HIV patients needs to be further researched. Rather strict hygiene practices along with prophylactic treatment have been suggested (Lortholary Dupont, 1997).It is suggested that all clinical staff and other health care workers are periodically trained in infection control and there should be consistent evaluation of techniques being used. The nurse is in a unique position to ensure that infection afford is reduced by carrying out and monitoring aseptic practices ensuring the environment is clean to prevent spread of micro organisms and to protect the patient from ill staff and visitors (Collins, n.d).Some studies have also proposed that there is little evidence that dispel barrier nursing is effective especially where there is no laminal air flow or HEPA-filtered rooms available. However some studies indicate that the filtered rooms can reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with leukemia (Seshadri Baumann, 2008).The use of reverse isolation of any type for patients with solid tumors who are neutropenic is disapprove since there are no studies to prove it is helpful rather it can cause anxiety and confusion for patients, their families, and healthcare workers (Seshadri Baumann, 2008).After reviewing the literature the question can be answered that neutropenic patients can be effectively nursed on these wards with the collaboration of all the members or the health care team in carrying out proper hygienic methods.