Final answer:
To assist a patient with a decision on HSCT, the nurse should ask if the patient has any questions or concerns, facilitating informed decision-making. HSCT involves replacing damaged bone marrow with healthy donor marrow and could lead to healthy blood cell production and potentially cure diseases like leukemia, but it also carries risks of rejection and GVHD.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best approach for the nurse to assist a 54-year-old woman with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) considering a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is to c. ask the patient whether there are any questions or concerns about HSCT. This approach facilitates open communication, allows the patient to express her fears or doubts, and provides an opportunity for the nurse to address specific concerns and support informed decision-making. It is important not to over-emphasize potential positive outcomes or imply that a cure is impossible without HSCT without discussing the risks, alternative treatments, and the patient's individual circumstances, including the importance of insurance coverage for post-HSCT care.
HSCT involves replacing diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy bone marrow from a donor, and is used to treat several serious conditions, including various types of leukemia. Successful transplantation can lead to the production of healthy blood cells and potentially cure the underlying disease. However, a matching donor is crucial to minimize the risk of tissue rejection and complications like graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The patient's own diseased marrow is typically destroyed through radiation and/or chemotherapy prior to infusing donor bone marrow stem cells.