How to Care for a Patient With Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Lymphoma refers to a group of cancers that affect the lymphatic system or lymph nodes, which provide immunity from disease-causing organisms. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a type of lymphoma with no single definitive cause. It may be caused by a virus, hair dye or taking immunosuppresive drugs for organ transplant, among other factors. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may be indolent, where the patient shows no symptoms, or aggressive, where the patient suddenly shows symptoms. This cancer can be treated with radiation or chemotherapy, and care for the patient is focused on the side effects of these treaments, including a depressed immune system and risk for skin breakdown.

Instructions

How to Care for a Patient With Non Hodgkins Lymphoma

• 1

  Place the patient in protective isolation, in a private room. Prevent contact between the patient and people who may transfer infections to the patient, such as visitors with cold infections or coughs.

• 2

  Wash your hands thoroughly before attending to your patient. Instruct your patient to ask all staff to wash their hands before providing him with any services.

• 3

  Encourage your client to wash his hands before and after eating, as well as after using the bathroom.

• 4

  Monitor the patient for signs of infection. Assess his temperature, breath sounds, level of consciousness, pulse and blood pressure. Note any abnormal values that may indicate the presence of an infection and notify your patient's physician if suspicious.

• 5

  Monitor your patient's skin and mucus membranes for skin breakdown. Inspect his mouth for wounds. Perform meticulous mouth care on your patient using soft sponges, and rinse his mouth with normal saline after every meal for prevention or healing of mouth wounds.

• 6

  Avoid or reduce the number of invasive procedures done on your patient. They may introduce disease-causing organisms into his body or cause excessive bleeding if his blood platelet values are below normal. Inserting a urinary catheter or starting an intravenous line are invasive procedures.