Critical thinking in Palliative Care of Nursing Essay

Critical thinking in Palliative Care of Nursing - Essay Example ng to World Health Organization (WHO, 2009), palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and families who face life-threatening illness, by providing pain and symptom relief, spiritual and psychosocial support from diagnosis to the end of life and bereavement. Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms in palliative care patients, reported in 80% of cancer patients and in up to 99% of patients following radio- or chemotherapy (Radbruch et al., 2008). The fatigue experienced as a side effect of cancer treatment is differentiated from the fatigue experienced by healthy people in their daily lives. Healthy fatigue is frequently described as acute fatigue that is eventually relieved by sleep and rest; cancer treatment–related fatigue is categorized as chronic fatigue because it is present over a long period of time and is not completely relieved by sleep and rest (National Cancer Institute, 2009). This study aims to identify the treatment modalities and symptom management for cancer-related fatigue including assessment, interventions, and collaborations with multidisciplinary health care professionals, in providing comfort to alleviate the sufferings of breast cancer patients. Concepts and knowledge from related literatures, research, and practice shall be applied to clearly understand its nursing implications taking into consideration the actual management of breast cancer patients during Oncology ward hospital exposure. In a broader sense, fatigue, also known as weariness, tiredness, exhaustion, or lethargy, is generally defined as a feeling of lack of energy (eMedicineHealth, 2009). Cancer-related fatigue is a feeling of debilitating tiredness or total lack of energy that can last for days, weeks, or months; commonly caused by anemia, fatigue is the side effect of chemotherapy that affects patients the most – more than nausea, pain, or depression; symptoms include feeling weak or worn out, having difficulties climbing stairs, walking short