Using a clinical pathway approach to document patient teaching for breast cancer surgical procedures.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To develop a tool suitable for documenting patient teaching regarding surgery for breast cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Standards of care, clinical experience, published articles.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Development of a clinical pathway approach to documenting patient teaching was a logical outgrowth of a hospital-wide effort to implement pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

After use and revision, the nursing staff at Leonard Hospital determined the tool to be a comprehensive approach to patient education and it became a permanent part of the patient record.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The tool provides a standardized approach for teaching patients who are having breast cancer surgery and can be used in a variety of care settings by all members of the healthcare team.