Teaching ward nurses to monitor cancer patients.

Eight ward nurses were trained to assess psychological and physical adjustment following mastectomy. Training included provision of a standard assessment form, practice interviews and audiotape feedback of performance. All nurses improved in their ability to cover salient areas, the use of relevant interviewing techniques and identification of problems. They also reported greater job satisfaction and had used their new skills with other patients. These findings, albeit with a small sample, suggest that other general nurses could, with similar training, play an important part in the early recognition of the psychological problems which can develop in cancer patients.