NURS 287 Lecture Notes - Multiple Myeloma, Blood Transfusion, Primary Nursing
28 Apr 2013
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Multiple myeloma, or plasma cell myeloma, is a condition in which neoplastic plasma cells infiltrate the bone marrow and destroy bone. The patient often does not manifest symptoms until the disease is advanced. Multiple myeloma is seldom cured, but treatment can relieve symptoms, produce remission, and prolong life. Chemotherapy is usually the first treatment recommended for multiple myeloma. Maintaining adequate hydration is a primary nursing consideration to minimize problems from hypercalcemia. Because of the potential for pathologic fractures, the nurse must be careful when moving and ambulating the patient. Blood component therapy is frequently used in managing hematologic diseases. However, blood component therapy only temporarily supports the patient until the underlying problem is resolved. When the blood or blood components have been obtained from the blood bank, positive identification of the donor blood and recipient must be made. Improper product-to-patient identification causes 90% of hemolytic transfusion reactions.
