Nursing in patients with hematological malignancies.

Abstract

Managing patients battling hematological malignancies is a multifaceted profession and may occur within several settings. High quality nursing care demands an adequate understanding of the wide spectrum of diseases and their impact on a patient’s ability to maintain homeostasis throughout the course of the disease. Impaired bone marrow function renders patients vulnerable to multiple complications. Nurses must be trained to care for patients with the appropriate additional precautions. They must be aware of common side effect profiles of varying treatment regimens and the signs and symptoms of hematological emergencies. Additionally, they facilitate important conversations between patients, their families and healthcare teams. This ensures that the psychosocial wellbeing of patients remains at the centre of all decisions and management plans.