Introducing the case study

19 Introducing the case study

Chapters 19–24 follow a patient diagnosed with breast cancer, in the form of a case study. Each chapter identifies a stage of the patient experience. As the case study unfolds, there are a number of activities to complete. In each activity, you are given the opportunity to explore a variety of nursing interventions and provide holistic support for both the patient and her family. You are encouraged to refer back to the anatomy and physiology, and other health theory, in Sections 1 and 2. Practical exercises are suggested for you to do either while on placement or by reflecting on previous experience. It is, therefore, useful to have your notes from Sections 1 and 2 handy since you will be directed back to some of the activities you have already completed.

By working through one patient experience in this way, you can follow through aspects of integrated care introduced throughout the book. You are also encouraged to link the NMC principles and competencies to various stages of the patient’s experience.

Journal papers are suggested for each of the exercises. These papers may not refer specifically to the cancer experience, but encourage you to think across different disease groups. For example, section on complex discharge suggests a paper exploring the challenges of discharging a woman with multiple sclerosis. This helps to focus and consolidate and build up your knowledge, as well as provide underpinning evidence to apply confidently in your future clinical practice across a range of clinical settings.

From the point of diagnosis, patients encounter many different physical, psychological, social and economical effects of cancer and its treatment. Their experience will be unique and the time frame for each individual will be different. As healthcare professionals, we are generally unable to predict the overall outcome. We can, however, surmise a number of possible phases patients may experience. Figure 19.1 outlines these different phases which can help healthcare professionals to identify support and services that patients might need at different points.