Lung Cancer

LUNG CANCER INTRO

Cancer is a disease process that begins when a cell is transformed

by genetic mutations of the cellular DNA

Lung Cancer is the leading cause of death due to cancer among men
and women in the U.S.

In about 70 % of patients with lung cancer, the disease quite

frequently has already spread to regional lymph nodes and other areas
by the time it is diagnosed therefore, the long-term survival rate is
poor, with the 5 year survival rate being a mere 13%

the most common cause of cancer of the lungs is usually inhaled

carcinogens, most often cigarette smoke (90%)
Carcinoma usually arises in areas of previous scarring (such as TB,
fibrosis, etc.) in the lungs

CLASSIFICATION
SMALL CELL
LUNG CANCER
accounts for about 1015% of tumors
generally includes
small cell carcinoma
and combined small
cell carcinoma

NON-SMALL CELL
LUNG CANCER
accounts for the other 85-90%
of tumors
include squamous cell
carcinoma (more centrally
located), large cell
carcinoma, adenocarcinoma
and bronchoalveolar
carcinoma. Further
classification of NSCLC is
according to cell type

CLASSIFICATION
CONTINUED:
NSCLC

Adenocarcinoma- develops peripherally as peripheral

masses or nodules and usually metastasizes (spread of
cancer cells from the primary tumor to distant sites). It
is the most common lung cancer in both sexes

Bronchoalveolar carcinoma- located in the terminal

bronchi and alveoli, and for the most part is slower
growing in comparison to the other bronchogenic
carcinomas

Large Cell Carcinoma (undifferentiated carcinoma)- a

faster growing tumor that usually arises peripherally

STAGING

the stage of the tumor involves the size

of the tumor, its location, lymph nodes
involvment, and whether the cancer has
spread to other organs

staging helps clinicians better

determine prognosis and treatment
direction

SCLC typically diagnosed as limited

stage (one area of chest and usually
treatable by radiation, etc.) or
extensive stage (spread to other parts
of the body, metastasized, etc.)

NSCLC typically staged as I to IVStage I earliest stage, highest cure rate

Stage IV-metastatic spread and usually
fatal.

RISK FACTORS:
CIGARETTE SMOKING
Number one risk factor for lung
cancer!
In the U.S. cigarette smoking is linked
to 80-90% of all lung cancers.
People who smoke cigarettes are 15
to 30 times more likely to get lung
cancer or die from lung cancer than
those who do not smoke.
Smoke from other peoples
cigarettes, pipes, or cigars
(secondhand smoke) also causes lung
cancer. About 7,300 people who have
never smoked die from lung cancer
each year due to secondhand smoke.

RISK FACTORS:
RADON

Radon is a naturally occurring gas

that comes from rocks and dirt and
can get trapped in houses and
buildings. Radon breaks down into
radon progeny which can attach to
dust and other particles and are then
inhaled.

Levels are usually highest in

basements or crawl spaces, which is
closest to soil and rocks. Therefore,
people who spend a lot of time in
these rooms are at a greater risk.

According to the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), radon
causes about 20,000 cases of lung
cancer each year, making it the
second leading cause of lung
cancer.. Nearly 1 out of 15 homes in
the U.S. is thought to have high

RISK FACTORS: PERSONAL

OR FAMILY HISTORY OF LUNG
CANCER

If you are a lung cancer

survivor, there is a risk that
you may develop another
lung cancer, especially if you
smoke!

Your risk of lung cancer may

be higher if your parents,
brothers or sisters, or children
have had lung cancer. This
could be true because they
also smoke, or they live or
work in the same place where
they are exposed to radon
and other substances that
can cause lung cancer.

RISK FACTORS:
RADIATION THERAPY TO
THE CHEST

Cancer survivors who

have had radiation to
the chest are at a
higher risk for
developing lung cancer.

Examples include
people treated for
Hodgkin disease or
women who get
radiation after a
mastectomy for breast
cancer.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
A PATIENT SEEKS CARE FOR DRY HACKING COUGH
THAT HAS LASTED FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS. WHAT
QUESTION SHOULD THE NURSE ASK IN ORDER TO
OBTAIN THE MOST APPROPRIATE INFORMATION?

A: DO YOU SMOKE CIGARETTES, CIGARS, OR PIPES?

B: HAVE YOU STRAINED YOUR VOICE RECENTLY?
C: DO YOU EAT A LOT OF FISH?
D: DO YOU EAT SPICY FOODS?

ANSWER
ANSWER: A
PERSISTENT DRY COUGH MAY SIGNAL LUNG CANCER.
SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE IS ONE OF THE LEADING
CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER. TO ASSESS THE PATIENTS RISK
FOR LUNG CANCER, THE NURSE SHOULD EXAMINE THE
PATIENTS SMOKING HABITS. STRAINING ONES VOICE WILL
NOT CAUSE A COUGH FOR ALMOST TWO MONTHS, AND
EATING FISH OR SPICY FOODS HAS NO CORRELATION WITH
A COUGH.

PREVENTION:
STOP SMOKING!!

According to the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), approximately 90% of all
lung cancer related deaths in the
U.S. are caused by cigarette
smoking. The primary prevention
of this cancer is to not start
smoking, or to cease immediately
if you already smoke. Avoid other
people's secondhand smoke from
cigarettes, cigars, or pipes and
ensure that your house and
vehicle are smoke-free
environments.

PREVENTION:
RADON EXPOSURE

Radon is a radioactive gas

that is an odorless, tasteless,
colorless, and radioactive gas
that diffuses into the air from
the ground. The United States
Environmental Protection
Agency advises that all homes
should be tested for this gas.

Do-it-yourself radon
detection kits are available.
They stay in your home for a
certain period of time and then
are mailed to a lab for analysis.

PREVENTION:
WORK SAFETY

Many work environments can harbor

potentially harmful substances known
as carcinogens. These are substances
which can cause or increase the risk of
acquiring cancer. It is important for all
workers to follow workplace health and
safety guidelines in order to avoid
potential exposure to carcinogens.

According to the American Cancer

Society, these chemicals can include:

Tetrachlorethylene - a common dry

cleaning fluid

Asbestos - a naturally occurring group

of minerals

Benzene - a colorless and flammable

liquid which gives off a sweet scent

Arsenic - a naturally occurring

poisonous substance

Formaldehyde - an odorless chemical

used in building materials

ASSESSMENT:
SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS
Cough- The MOST prominent symptom- monitor if the
patient develops any kind of change in character of
chronic cough.
The cough is usually a dry, persistent hacking cough that
may become productive with sputum production if and
when infection develops
dyspnea or difficulty breathing (especially early on in
the course of the disease)
Blood-tinged sputum (hemoptysis)
Pain pleuritic or shoulder pain (may occur late in the
course of the disease as well if spread to the bone)
Fever- due to constant infections in the lung
parenchyma
Nonspecific S/S- Weight loss and generalized weakness
If tumor metastasizes, S/S include more pronounced
chest pain and tightness, difficulty swallowing, edema of
head and neck, & possible pleural/pericardial effusion.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
WARNING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LUNG
CANCER INCLUDE PERSISTENT COUGH, BLOODY
SPUTUM, DYSPNEA, AND WHICH OF THE OTHER
FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS?
A: DIZZINESS
B: PETECHIAE
C: HYPOTENSION
D: RECURRENT PLEURAL EFFUSION

ANSWER
ANSWER: D
RECURRING EPISODES OF PLEURAL EFFUSIONS CAN
BE CAUSED BY THE TUMOR AND SHOULD BE
INVESTIGATED. DIZZINESS, GENERALIZED WEAKNESS,
AND HYPOTENSION ARENT TYPICALLY CONSIDERED
WARNING SIGNALS, BUT MAY OCCUR IN ADVANCED
STAGES OF CANCER.

DIAGNOSTICS

-Chest x-Ray- to assess density of the

lung, and to search for a single lung nodule
(or coin lesion), alveolar collapse, or
infection

-CT scan of Chest- to look for smaller

nodules that may be difficult to see on the xray, or to determine lymph node pathology

-Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy gives an indetail study of the tracheobronchial tree and

allows for tissue biopsies to be collected

-Fine-needle Aspiration- done

transthoracically and under CT guidance to
collect tissue for examination if it cannot be
collected via bronchoscopy

-PET scans, CT scans, bone scans,

abdominal scans, and ultrasounds of various
organs and other areas throughout the body
may be performed to evaluate for
metastasis

DIAGNOSTICS:
CONTINUED

MEDICAL
INTERVENTIONS FOR
LUNG CANCER
Medical interventions aim to cure, treat or
palliate
Interventions performed: surgical,
pharmacological, radiation

SURGERY
Most stage I and stage II non-small cell lung cancers are treated with
surgery to remove the tumor
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally
invasive surgical technique used to diagnose and treat problems in
your chest
Resection of tumor, lobe: here are some types.
1. Wedge resection to remove a small section of lung that
contains the tumor along with a margin of healthy tissue
2. Segmental resection (segmentectomy) to remove a larger
portion of lung, but not an entire lobe
3. Lobectomy (bilobectemy) to remove the entire lobe of one lung
4. Pneumonectomy to remove an entire lung

RADIATION
Teletherapy High-powered energy
beams from sources such as X-rays
and protons
External beam radiation therapy
(EBRT): Delivers high doses of
radiation to lung cancer cells from
outside the body, using a variety of
machine-based technologies.
Stereotactic radiosurgery (track tumor
in real time as you breath to avoid
healthy tissue)
-High dose rate (HDR)
brachytherapy (Internal
Radiation): Delivers high doses of
radiation from implants placed close
to, or inside, the tumor(s) in the
body.

Brachytherapy:
(instill catheter in
bronchial tube ) allow
for faster and precise.
bleed and SOB
relieved when high
dose radiation
delivered to tumor.

PHARMACOLOGICAL
THERAPY
.

Expectorants and antimicrobial agents to

relieve dyspnea and infection.

Analgesics given ATC and PRN for

breakthrough, expect acute and chronic pain.

Meds to manage side effects of chemo and

radiation (dry mouth)

CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy treatment plan for lung cancer often consists of a

combination of drugs. Among the drugs most commonly used are
cisplatin (Platinol)

carboplatin (Paraplatin) plus docetaxel (Taxotere)

gemcitabine (Gemzar)

paclitaxel (Taxol and others)

vinorelbine (Navelbine and others),

pemetrexed (Alimta).

-Chemotherapy after surgery, known as adjuvant chemotherapy,

may help prevent the cancer from returning.

-Chemotherapy before surgery is known as Neoadjuvant

chemotherapy. Used to shrink tumor enough to make it easier to
remove with surgery or increase effectiveness of radiation.

TARGETED THERAPY
Targeted treatments are more specific to cancer cells. They
also attach or block targets on CA Cell surface.
Certain cancers have specific biomarkers, used to determine
eligibility and efficacy. These Biomarkers may receive
treatment with a targeted drug alone or in combination with
chemotherapy. These treatments for lung cancer include:

Erlotinib (Gilotrif).

Gefitinib (Iressa)

Bevacizumab (Avastin).

IMMUNOTHERAPY
The use of ones own immune system as treatment against cancer.
Monoclonal antibodies are lab-generated molecules that target
specific tumor antigens
Checkpoint inhibitors target molecules that serve as checks and
balances in the regulation of immune responses.
Therapeutic vaccines target shared or tumor-specific antigens.
Adoptive T-cell transfer (removed from the patient, genetically
modified or treated with chemicals to enhance their activity)

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
A CLIENT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG
CANCER AND REQUIRES A WEDGE RESECTION.
HOW MUCH OF THE LUNG IS REMOVED ?
A) ONE ENTIRE LUNG
B) A LOBE OF THE LUNG
C) A SMALL LOCALIZED AREA NEAR THE
SURFACE OF THE LUNG
D) A SEGMENT OF THE LUNG, INCLUDING A
BRONCHIOLE AND IT'S ALVEOLI

ANSWER
ANSWER: C
A WEDGE RESECTION IS THE REMOVAL OF A SMALL AREA OF
TISSUE CLOSE TO THE SURFACED. ENTIRE LUNG REMOVAL IS
CALLED PNEUMONECTOMY. SEGMENT REMOVAL IS CALLED
SEGMENTAL RESECTION. A LOBE REMOVED IS A LOBECTOMY.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
A CLIENT WITH A BENIGN LUNG TUMOR IS
TREATED IN THE FOLLOWING WAY:
A) THE TUMOR IS LEFT ALONE UNLESS SYMPTOMS
ARE PRESENT
B) THE TUMOR IS REMOVED, INVOLVING THE LEAST
AMOUNT OF HEALTHY TISSUE AS POSSIBLE.
C) SINGLE HIGH DOSE CHEMOTHERAPY (SHDC) IS
GIVEN AS A PRECAUTION
D) NEOADJUVANT RADIATION ONLY, IS THE
TREATMENT OF CHOICE, TO PREVENT MALIGNANCY
FROM INITIATING.

ANSWER
ANSWER: A
IF THE TUMOR IS BENIGN IT IS USUALLY LEFT
ALONE IF THERE ARE CONSUMPTIONS.
RADIATION AND CHEMOTHERAPY ARE FOR
MALIGNANCIES

END OF LIFE CARE:

MANAGING FATIGUE

The fatigue a cancer

patient feels is an
abnormal and enduring
feeling of extreme
exhaustion that does not
improve with rest. For
management of fatigue,
it is important to
improve the causes
which exacerbate it,
such as pain,
constipation, or
medication. Careful
balancing of rest and
activity is imperative.

END OF LIFE:
PAIN MANAGEMENT

Pain generates feelings of irritability,

sleeplessness, decrease in appetite
and concentration, etc. It is helpful to
understand that pain does not have to
be a part of dying.

Signs of pain can include noisy and

labored breathing, sounds of pain,
such as groaning or moaning, facial
expressions, and body language and
movements.

Pain can be controlled and managed.

Medications for pain range anywhere
from Tylenol to opioids such as
Morphine. Other ways to control pain
include nerve blocks, radiation
treatment, surgery, massage,
application of heat or cold,
meditation, and entertainment like
music or movies.

END OF LIFE:
CHANGES IN APPETITE

In the last months of life body

processes start to slow down and
the body begins to limit the
nutrients necessary to function.

Appetite loss can be caused by

changes in taste and smell, dry
mouth, changes in stomach and
bowel, shortness of breath, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and
constipation.

Side effects of medication, spiritual

distress, and stress are also
possible causes. Some of these can
be managed with nutritional
support, such as eating strategies
and supplements, as well as
medications that decrease nausea,
stimulate the appetite, or stimulate
peristalsis.

END OF LIFE:
BREATHING DIFFICULTY
MANAGMENT

Shortness of breath and

labored breathing are
common in advanced
cancer.

Management can include

sitting up or propping
oneself on pillows, wearing
a nasal cannula to deliver
supplemental oxygen or
increase airflow, opioid pain
and anxiolytic medications,
as well as breathing and
relaxation techniques.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
ON THE NIGHT BEFORE A 58-YEAR-OLD WIFE AND
MOTHER IS TO HAVE A LOBECTOMY FOR LUNG
CANCER, SHE REMARKS TO THE NURSE, I AM SO
SCARED OF THIS CANCER. I SHOULD HAVE QUIT
SMOKING YEARS AGO. NOW I HAVE BROUGHT ALL
THIS FEAR AND SADNESS ON MYSELF AND NOW MY
FAMILY. THE NURSE SHOULD TELL THE CLIENT:
A: DO YOU FEEL GUILTY BECAUSE YOU SMOKED?
B: IT IS OKAY TO BE SCARED. WHAT IS IT ABOUT CANCER
THAT YOU ARE AFRAID OF?
C: IT IS NORMAL TO BE SCARED, WE WILL HELP YOU
THROUGH IT.
D: DONT BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF. WE ALL MAKE
MISTAKES.

ANSWER
ANSWER: B
ACKNOWLEDGING THE BASIC FEELING THAT THE CLIENT
EXPRESSED AND ASKING AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION
ALLOWS THE CLIENT TO EXPLAIN HER FEARS. SAYING,
IT IS NORMAL TO BE SCARED. WE WILL HELP YOU
THROUGH IT, DOES NOT FOCUS ON THE CLIENTS
FEELINGS; RATHER, IT GIVES REASSURANCE. ASKING IF
THE CLIENT FEELS GUILTY FOR HAVING SMOKED
ASSUMES GUILT, WHICH MIGHT BE PRESENT, BUT
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO CONFIRM.
TELLING THE CLIENT NOT TO BE SO HARD ON HERSELF
DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE CLIENTS FEELINGS AT
ALL.

NURSING
INTERVENTIONS
RISK FOR
INFECTION

Teach patient to avoid those with

known or recent infections

Impaired Tissue Integrity:

ALOPECIA

Advise that hair loss may occur on

body parts other than the head

Avoid shaving with a straight edge

razor

Explain that hair growth usually begins

again once therapy is completed

Avoid heating pads, ice, adhesive tape,

and hot showers/baths.

Guide the patient in purchasing a hair

piece or wig before hair loss

Avoid rectal or vaginal procedures.

Lubricate scalp with Vitamin A & D

ointment to decrease itching

Discuss dental procedures with PCP

Avoid IM injections
Avoid insertion of urinary
catheters( but if they are necessary,
use aseptic technique)

Have patient wear hat or sunscreen

while exposed to the sun

NURSING INTERVENTIONS:
CONTINUED
IMPAIRED GAS EXCAHNGE

Maintain the patient in elevated

positions in order to enhance lung
expansion

Assess respiratory rate, rhythm, and

depth.

Assist with deep breathing exercises

and pursed-lip breathing as
appropriate.

Administer supplemental oxygen as

indicated

Monitor ABGs, Pulse oximetry, Hbg

& Hct levels.

Encourage fluid intake (2500

ml/day)

Maintain patency of chest

drainage system for lobectomy,
segmental or wedge resection
patient.
Avoid positioning patient with
a pneumonectomy on the
operative side; instead, favor
the good lung down position.

NURSING
INTERVENTIONS:
CONTINUED
Imbalanced Nutrition: Less
than Body Requirements

Prevent unpleasant sights,

odors and sounds during
mealtime.
Ensure adequate fluid
hydration, before, during, and
after drug administration
Adjust diet before and after
drug administration according
to patient preference and
tolerance.
Encourage frequent oral
hygiene.
Encourage the patient to use
guided imagery and relaxation
techniques during mealtime.

Chronic Pain

Offer nonpharmacologic strategies

to relieve pain and discomfort.
Encourage analgesics to be
administered AOC rather than PRN.
Provide education about the use of
analgesics (ie; adverse effects,
potential complications, how to
administer)

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
AFTER A LOBECTOMY FOR LUNG CANCER, THE
NURSE INSTRUCTS THE PATIENT TO PERFORM
DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES TO:
A: ELEVATE THE DIAPHRAGM TO ENLARGE THE
THORAX SO THAT THE LUNG SURFACE AREA
AVAILABLE FOR GAS EXCHANGE IS INCREASED.
B: EXPAND THE ALVEOLI AND INCREASE LUNG
SURFACE AREA AVAILABLE FOR GAS EXCHANGE IS
INCREASED.
C: DECREASE BLOOD FLOW TO THE LUNGS FOR REST
AND INCREASED SURFACE ALVEOLI VENTILATION.
D: CONTROL THE RATE OF AIR FLOW TO THE
REMAINING LOBE TO DECREASE THE RISK OF
HYPERINFLATION.

ANSWER
ANSWER: B
DEEP BREATHING HELPS PREVENT MICRO
ATELECTASIS AND PNEUMONITIS AND ALSO
HELPS FORCE AIR AND FLUID OUT OF THE
PLEURAL SPACE INTO THE CHEST TUBES. IT DOES
NOT DECREASE BLOOD FLOW TO THE LUNGS OR
CONTROL THE RATE OF AIR FLOW. THE
DIAPHRAGM IS THE MAJOR MUSCLE OF
RESPIRATION; DEEP BREATHING CAUSES IT TO
DESCEND, THEREBY INCREASING THE
VENTILATING SURFACE.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
A PATIENT RECEIVING EXTRENAL RADIATION TO THE LEFT
THORAX TO TREAT LUNG CANCER HAS A NURSING
DIAGNOSIS OF RISK FOR IMPAIRED SKIN INTEGRITY.
WHICH INTERVENTION SHOULD BE PART OF THIS
PATIENTS PLAN OF CARE?
A: AVOIDING USING SOAP ON THE
IRRADIATED AREAS
B: APPLYING POWDER TO THE
IRRADIATED AREAS DAILY AFTER
BATHING
C: WEARING LEAD APRON DURING
DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE CLIENT
D: REMOVING THORACIC SKIN
MARKINGS AFTER EACH RADIATION

ANSWER
ANSWER: A
BECAUSE EXTERNAL RADIATION COMMONLY CAUSES SKIN
IRRITATION, THE NURSE SHOULD WASH THE IRRADIATED
AREA WITH WATER ONLY AND LEAVE THE AREA OPEN TO
AIR. NO SOAPS, DEODERANTS, LOTIONS, OR POWDERS
SHOULD BE APPLIED. A LEAD APRON IS UNECESSARY
BECAUSE NO RADIATION SOURCE IS PRESENT IN THE
CLIENTS BODY OR ROOM. SKIN IN THE AREA TO BE
IRRADIATED IS MARKED TO POSITION THE RADIATION
BEAM AS PRECISELY AS POSSIBLE; MARKINGS MUST NOT
BE REMOVED.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
THE NURSE ON AN ONCOLOGY UNIT ENTERS THE
ROOM OF A CLIENT WITH LUNG CANCER. WHICH
ACTION IS MOST APPROPRIATE FOR THE NURSE TO
DO FIRST?
A: CHECK THE CLIENTS IV PUMP AND
FLUID RATE
B: TAKE THE CLIENTS BLOOD PRESSURE
AND PULSE RATE
C: ASSESS THE CLIENTS LOC AND
MENTAL STATUS
D: ELEVATE THE HEAD OF THE BED

ANSWER
ANSWER: D
THE CLIENT WITH LUNG CANCER EXPERIENCES
DIFFICULTY OF BREATHING. THEREFORE, THE FIRST
ACTION BY THE NURSE IS TO FACILITATE THE CLIENT'S
BREATHING BY ELEVATING THE HEAD OF THE BED.

STOP! QUESTION
TIME
A 62-YEAR-OLD MALE IS DYING FROM METASTATIC LUNG CANCER,
AND ALL TREATMENTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. THE
CLIENTS BREATHING PATTERN IS LABORED, WITH GURGLING
SOUNDS. THE CLIENTS WIFE ASKS THE NURSE, CANT YOU DO
SOMETHING TO HELP WITH HIS BREATHING? WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING
IS THE NURSESBEST
RESPONSE
IN THIS
a. DIRECT
THE UNLICENSED
PERSONNEL TO
ASSESS THE
SITUATION?
CLIENTS VITAL SIGNS AND
PROVIDE ORAL CARE
B. SUCTION THE CLIENT SO THAT THE CLIENTS WIFE
KNOWS ALL INTERVENTIONS WERE PERFORMED
C. REPOSITION THE CLIENT, ELEVATE THE HEAD OF THE
BED, AND PROVIDE A COOL COMPRESS
D. EXPLAIN TO THE WIFE THAT IT IS STANDARD PRACTICE
NOT TO SUCTION CLIENTS WHEN TREATMENTS HAVE BEEN
DISCONTINUED

ANSWER
ANSWER: C
REPOSITIONING THE CLIENT, ELEVATING THE HEAD
OF THE BED, AND PROVIDING A COOL COMPRESS
ARE COMFORT INTERVENTIONS CONSISTENT WITH
THE CONCEPT OF PALLIATIVE CARE OF THE DYING.

STOP QUESTION
TIME!
THE HOME HEALTH CARE NURSE IS CARING FOR A
PATIENT WITH CANCER AND THE CLIENT IS
COMPLAINING OF ACUTE PAIN. THE MOST
APPROPRIATE NURSING ASSESSMENT OF THE
PATIENT'S PAIN WOULD INCLUDE WHICH OF THE
FOLLOWING?
a. THE PATIENT'S PAIN RATING
B. NONVERBAL CUES FROM THE PATIENT
C. THE NURSES IMPRESSION OF THE
PATIENT'S PAIN
D. PAIN RELIEF AFTER APPROPRIATE
NURSING INTERVENTION

ANSWER

ANSWER: A
THE PATIENT'S SELF-REPORT IS A CRITICAL
COMPONENT OF PAIN ASSESSMENT. THE
NURSE SHOULD ASK THE PATIENT ABOUT THE
DESCRIPTION OF THE PAIN AND LISTEN
CAREFULLY TO THE PATIENT'S WORDS USED
TO DESCRIBE THE PAIN.

THANK YOU!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Works Cited

Ackley, Betty J. & Ladwig, Gail B. (2014). Nursing Diagnosis

Handbook: An Evidence-Based
Guide to Planning Care. Tenth Edition. St. Louis, Missouri:
Mosby.

Cheever, Kerry H. & Hinkle, Janice L. (2014) Brunner and

Suddarths Textbook of MedicalSurgical Nursing. Thirteenth Edition. Philidelphia,
Pennsylvania: Wolters Kluwer.

Lillis, C., Lynn, P., & Taylor, C. (2015) Fundamentals of Nursing:

The Art and Science of
Person-Centered Nursing Care. Eighth Edition. Philidelphia,
Pennsylvania: Wolters
Kluwer.

Radon and Cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2016 from