Evidence-Based Nursing of Patients with Hematologic Malignancies

Actual insides in the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies have contributed to significant advances in the diagnosis and evolving treatment options for these diseases. This evolution warrants expanded and specialized knowledge and skills development for nurses to provide expert care to these patients. Understanding these new approaches needs, beyond basic training in hematology, a continuing education program for nurses as well as the development of critical thinking when reading scientific literature to provide evidence-based nursing interventions. Expert and highly complex practice includes comprehensive assessment with validated tools, early recognition of a complication, prompt action, and care management (preventive and curative) in collaboration with the patient and other healthcare providers. Supportive care to improve the quality of life of our patients extends beyond symptom management and includes social, psychological, and spiritual care. Nurses in hematology should also take the leadership in the development of new models of care such as nurse-led consultation, outpatient care, patient self-management, and survivorship care provision for the increasing number of hematology cancer survivors. New and more general challenges to be faced by the hematology nurse are the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance, adherence to oral treatment, and effective and equal care to all patients in a context of multiculturality. This chapter will highlight these recent advances and, there were possible, describe the evidence-based nursing interventions to assure high-quality physical and psychosocial care for hematologic patients.