Surviving it all with a Nurse Navigator
Doctors are born to tell all their patients the truth about their health conditions and to find ways to cure them. Meanwhile, a nurse navigator does what a doctor cannot offer the patient – that is to accompany him or her as she journeys through her sickness.
When we say sickness we’re not pertaining to a bad cold or a toothache, but one that can cost one’s life. To receive a diagnosis of cancer is not easy to accept. In fact, one can initially resort to denial and gradually develop fear for her loved ones whom she would leave behind soon.
This explains why families of cancer patients are encouraged to bring a nurse who specializes in patient navigation into the life of their loved ones who have been diagnosed with cancer. It is important to note though that this has to be done the moment your loved one receives her diagnosis. If you wait for her to reach the lowest point of depression before doing so, then you’ll be compelled to call in other medical practitioners, as well, such as a psychiatrist.
Whereas getting an oncology-certified nurse in the onset of a family member’s sickness will help clear the cobwebs of fear, anger and guilt that fill the patient’s mind. Once these useless elements are gone, the patient will be able to absorb easily what her nurse has to say.
Unlike doctors, a nurse who specializes in cancer patient navigation understands that by telling a patient that she has to undergo surgery, or any treatment such as chemotherapy, just adds to her pile of fears. In order to reduce those fears down to zero, a nurse navigator would not go into the details of a chemo, instead, she would take a lighter approach to the subject.
Someone veteran on the field, for instance, would tell her patient about a wig shop that offers synthetic wigs that look like real hair. She would advise her patient to clinch a stylish one before the schedule of her chemo. What’s more, she would even advise her patient on how to lighten the radiation burns once the chemo session is over.
Veering from the medical lingo somehow diverts the patient’s attention from her sickness and she starts to feel normal once again.
For oncology nurses, being a cancer patient’s constant companion is not limited to surgery and radiation sessions. They accompany their patients even in their hobbies to boost their self-esteem, and perhaps, this is explains why they have managed to get the trust of their patients.
With trust, patients are willing to undergo the necessary medical procedures that will better their condition. And with this special trust on their oncology nurses, cancer patients are willing to go on follow-up checkups.
Patients can also positively look forward to their recovery in a long term care (LTC) facility of their choice as they were made to believe that their sickness is not out of the ordinary.
If you have loved one suffering from cancer, just keep in mind that no doctor made it through without a nurse navigator.
Feel free to use our nurse navigator to solve the complex issues involved in caring for the elderly. Through this you can provide care for your loved ones even if you’re miles away from them.
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