Winter 2024
I’m Too Young to Have Breast Cancer/When Cure isn’t Possible – Learning Aims and Readings
Care Scenario Learning Aims & Care Concepts
“I’m too young Professional Nursing Care:
to have Breast 1. As evolving clinicians, students apply clinical
Cancer” reasoning related to the role of the nurse in
supporting a client with cancer, including:
 Assessment and management of pain, fatigue
and other symptoms related to both illness
and treatment, including pharmacological and
nonpharmacological approaches as well as
complementary therapies
 Resource coordination
Communication and Advocacy
1. As communicators and advocates, students
explore establishing a therapeutic nurse-client
relationship, including advocacy
Critical Inquiry
1. Explore the concepts of hope and suffering for a
newly diagnosed patient with cancer
Professional Nursing Care:
1. As evolving clinicians, students apply clinical
reasoning related to the role of the nurse in
supporting a palliative care client, including:
 Principles of palliative care
 Advanced care planning (end of life)
 Ethical decision making
 Care of the client, family and caregivers
Student Preparation
Prior Learning:
N1IO2: Communication, Pain Assessment
N3X04: Advanced Communication Labs
N2MM3: Ethical DM
N3SS3: CNO (2009) Ethics; Advocacy Model/ Framework
Required Readings: “I’m too young to have breast cancer”
Polek, C. and Cashman, R. (2019). Chapter 18: Cancer. In S. L.
Lewis, L. Bucher, M.M. Heitkemper, M. M. Harding, M. A.
Barry, J. Lok, J. Tyerman, S. Goldsworthy, J. Kwong, & D.
Roberts (Eds). Medical-Surgical Nursing in Canada, (4th
ed., pp. 316-351). Elsevier Canada.
 Read: Pages 326-348 (starting with Collaborative Care)
OR
Cashman, R., & Cortese, M. (2023). Chapter 18: Cancer. In J.
Tyerman, & S. L. Cobbett (Eds.). Lewis’s Medical-
Surgical nursing in Canada, (5th ed., pp. 307-341).
Elsevier Canada.
 Read: Pages 316-339 (starting with Interprofessional
Care)
Campbell-Enns, H. J., & Woodgate, R. L. (2017). The
psychosocial experiences of women with breast cancer
across the lifespan: a systematic review. Psycho-Oncology,
26(11), 1711–1721. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4281
Winter 2024
Care Scenario Learning Aims & Care Concepts
 Resource coordination and community
“When cure resources
isn’t possible” 2. Explore the Square of Care model related to Clint
Communication
1. As communicators, students explore initiating
end of life / palliative care discussions that reflect
the ethics, values and health care wishes of
persons and supporting families
Interprofessional Teamwork
1. As developing clinicians, students explore
interprofessional practice teams related to cancer
care (Oncologists, nutritionist, social workers,
physio / OT, spiritual leaders, complementary
therapy experts, grief and bereavement
educators, and palliative care teams).
Knowledge Utilization
For both 1. EIDM critical appraisal of causation/ harm
scenarios studies.
Student Preparation
Required Readings: “When cure isn’t possible”
Upchurch, L.A.L. & Mowry, A. (2019). Chapter 13: Palliative
Care at the End of Life. In S. L. Lewis, L. Bucher, M.M.
Heitkemper, M. M. Harding, M. A. Barry, J. Lok, J. Tyerman,
S. Goldsworthy, J. Kwong, & D. Roberts (Eds). Medical-
Surgical Nursing in Canada, (4th ed., pp.206-221). Elsevier
Canada.
 Read: pages 206-218.
OR
Olivier, S., Nichol, K., & Wilding, L. (2023). Chapter 13:
Palliative and End-of-Life Care. In J. Tyerman, & S. L.
Cobbett (Eds.). Lewis’s Medical-Surgical nursing in
Canada, (5th ed., pp. 201-2-15). Elsevier Canada.
 Read: pages 201-213
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. (2020). A Palliative
Approach to Care in the Last 12 Months of Life.
https://rnao.ca/bpg/guidelines/palliative-approach-care-
last-12-months-life
 Summary of recommendations: pages 16-17
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. (2011). End of life
care during the last days and hours.
https://rnao.ca/bpg/guidelines/endoflife-care-during-last-
days-and-hours
 Summary of recommendations: pages 5-6
Winter 2024

Care Scenario Learning Aims & Care Concepts Student Preparation

 Palliative performance scale: pages 99-100
 Edmonton symptom management tool: page 106

Cloyes, K. G., Hull, W., & Davis, A. (2018). Palliative and end-
of-life care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBTQ) cancer patients and their caregivers. Seminars in
Oncology Nursing, 34(1), 60-71.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2017.12.003

Hospice Palliative Care Ontario. Improving Person-Centred

Conversations. https://www.pcdm.ca/
 Read the following sections:
o Advanced Care Planning
o Goals of Care Discussion
o Substitute Decision-Making
o Informed Consent and Capacity

Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (2013). A Model

to Guide Hospice Palliative Care: Based on National
Principles and Norms of Practice.
https://www.chpca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/
norms-of-practice-eng-web.pdf, pages 1-17.

College of Nurses of Ontario. (2021). Guidance on Nurses’

Roles in Medical Assistance in Dying.
https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/41056-
guidance-on-nurses-roles-in-maid.pdf