Nursing care for AML patients

Nursing care:	Rationale:	Outcome:
Monitor vital signs	To collect baseline	Nurse will have the resources to identify changes from baseline, and monitor for signs and symptoms of infection
Inspect skin and mucous membranes for petechiae, bleeding gums, frank or occult blood in stool or urine.  Monitor for bruising.	Suppression of bone marrow and platelet production puts patient at risk for bleeding.	Nurse will be able to notice signs and symptoms of bleeding early on in order to manage early intervention
Implement measures to prevent tissue injury or bleeding	Patients with leukemia have fragile tissues and altered clotting mechanisms, which can increase risk of hemorrhage	Nurse will avoid sharp objects, minimize invasive procedures, etc. in order to minimize risk of bleeding or tissue injury
Monitor mucous membranes and signs and symptoms of mucositis.	When receiving chemotherapy, patients who are immunocompromised are at risk for mucositis as they are often affected by severe tissue disruption and pain.	Nurse will be able to notice signs and symptoms of mucositis in order to manage pain early on and implement measures to help with pain.
Provide thorough skin care by keeping patient’s skin and perineal area clean; apply mild lotion or creams to keep the skin from drying or cracking. Thoroughly clean skin before all invasive procedures.	Immunocompromised patients are at a high risk of infection.	By keeping skin from being dry and cracking, this protects their first line of defense against pathogens. These are more measures to eliminate opportunities for infection.
Encourage increased intake of foods high in protein and fluids with adequate fiber.	Promotes healing and dehydration. Constipation can potentiate retention of toxins and risk of rectal irritation or tissue injury.	Patient remains properly hydrated and able to maintain regular bowel function.
Monitor for pain and nausea, and treat accordingly	Nausea is a common side effect of treatment, and pain is common with cancer.	Patient should remain as comfortable as possible, and minimize effects of nausea and pain.

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http://nurseslabs.com/5-leukemia-nursing-care-plans/