Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin

4 Year Nursing Degree Programme (BSc Cur) General Nursing

NU2G02 General Nursing 2 (5 ECTS)

Learning Outcomes

Following completion of this module the student should be able to:

Discuss the nursing care and management of a patient with a non-malignant haematological disorder using a nursing process approach;
Discuss the nursing care and management of a patient pre, during and post a blood transfusion;
Discuss the nursing care and management of a patient with a malignant haematological disorder / cancer using a nursing process approach;
Discuss the nurses role in preparing the patient for, and caring for him/her during and after treatments such as cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiotherapy;
Discuss the nursing care and management of a patient with altered immunity (including HIV/AIDS) using a nursing process approach

Module Learning Aims

The aim of this module is to introduce the student to the theory underpinning the nursing care of the
person with malignant and non-malignant blood disorders, cancer, and altered immunity. This includes
the nurse’s role in the treatment of these conditions, in preparing patients for the different treatment
modalities, and in recognising and managing the side effects of these interventions. The module is
presented in two units of study:

Unit 1: The nursing care of the patient with a non-malignant blood disorder, including blood transfusion,
and management of this persons condition;
Unit 2: The nursing care of the patient with a malignant blood disorder, with cancer and with an altered
immune response (including HIV) and management of this person’s condition.

Essential Reading

Dougherty, L. Lister, S & West-Oram, A. (2015) The Royal Marsden Hospital Manual of Clinical Nursing Procedures. 9th Edition. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
Hinkle, J.L., & Cheever, K.H. (eds) (2014) Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. 13th Edition. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer|Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.

Recommended Reading

Bennett, L. (2005) Understanding sickle cell disorders Nursing Standard 19 (32): 52-61. Catlin, A. (2003) Thalassaemia: the facts and the controversies. Pediatric Nursing 29 (6):447-449.
Coughlan, M. and Healy, C. (2008) Nursing care,education and support for patients with neutropenia. Nursing Standard 22, 46, 35-41.
Coughlan, M. and Nevin, M. (2014) Nursing care of conditions related to the immune system, in Fundamentals of Medical-Surgical Nursing: A Systems Approach by Brady A. McCabe C. & McCann M. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell.
De, D. (2008) Acute nursing care and management of patient with sickle cell. British Journal of Nursing 77(13): 818-823.
Department of Health and Children (2005) The Prevention of Transmission of Blood-Borne Diseases in the Health-Care Setting. Dublin: Department of Health and Children.
Grundy, M. (2006) Nursing in Haematological Oncology 2nd Ed. Edinburgh: Baillière Tindall.
Hand, H. (2001) Blood and the classification of anaemia, Nursing Standard 15 (39): 45-55.
Hoffbrand A.V. and Moss P.A.H. (2011) Essential Haematology, 6th Ed. Wiley-Blackwell: Oxford.
Hollinworth, H. & Mann, L. (2010) Managing acute skin reactions to radiotherapy treatment. Nursing Standard 24(24) 53-64.
Langhorne, M. Fulton, J. and Otto, S. (2007) Oncology Nursing 5th Ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby.
Marrs, J. (2006) Care of patients with neutropenia. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 10 (2):164-166.
Montague, S. Watson, R. and Herbert, R. (2005) Physiology for Nursing Practice. 3rd Ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier.
National Blood Users Group (2004) Guidelines for the Administration of Blood and Blood Components. Dublin: National Blood Users Group.
Shelton, B. (2003) Evidence based care for the neutropenic patient with leukaemia. Seminars in Oncology Nursing 19 (2):133-141
Thomas, M. L. (2014) Assessment and management of patients with non-malignant hematologic disorders in Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 13th Ed. by Hinkle, J. and Cheever, K. (eds). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer │Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.