Abstract
The diagnosis of a malignant brain tumor is a stressful and traumatic event for patients and families. Management of patients with a malignant brain tumor requires a team effort where nursing plays a unique role. Neuro-oncology nurses are nurses who care for patients with primary and metastatic cancers of the central nervous system and patients with neurologic complications from their systemic cancer or treatments. These nurses face unique challenges when caring for patients with highgrade gliomas. Nurses provide care to these patients in many settings, from initial diagnosis to death, and in a wide variety of roles. Nurses are constantly attempting to recognize, prevent, and treat complications whether at the bedside, in the outpatient department, or by telephone triage and support. General nursing concerns for this patient population focus on the following: patient and family education, symptom management, and appropriate referrals. The focus of nursing care is to improve survival and maintain quality of life through recognition of symptoms and knowledgeable symptom control.
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© 2007 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ
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Lupica, K., Ditz, G. (2007). Nursing Considerations. In: Barnett, G.H. (eds) High-Grade Gliomas. Current Clinical Oncology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-185-7_17
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-185-7_17
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