General Nursing©

CANCER

In patients with lung cancer, the usual nursing management includes the following:

a) maintain patient airway,

b) monitor chest tubes to reestablish normal intrathoracic pressure and prevent postoperative and pulmonary complications,

c) check vital signs regularly,

d) suction often and encourage deep breathing and coughing

e) check secretion often,

f) monitor and record closed chest drainage,

g) keep test tubes patent,

h) watch for air leaks and report immediately,

I) position patient on surgical side to promote drainage and lung re-expansion,

j) watch for and report foul-smelling discharge and excessive drainage of dressing,

k) monitor intake and output,

l) maintain hydration,

m) watch for infection, shock, hemorrhage, atelectasis, dyspnea, and mediastinal shift,

n) apply antiembolism stocking and encourage range-of-motion exercises to prevent pulmonary embolus,

o) explain, treat and try to prevent adverse effects on radiation and chemotherapy,

p) encourage coughing and deep-breathing exercises to decrease risk of radiation pneumonitis,

q) ask dietary department for soft, non-irritating, high protein foods; encourage high calorie between meal snacks,

r) give antiemetics as needed,

s) impose reverse isolation if patient develops bone marrow suppression, and

t) give good skin care during radiation therapy to minimize breakdown; out patients should avoid tight clothing, sunburn, and harsh ointments on chest.

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