Frank delaRama on Patient Education in Prostate Cancer

Frank delaRama, RN, MS, AOCNS®, clinical nurse specialist with the Cancer Care Centers, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, explains the role of oncology nurse navigators in providing relevant information to men with prostate cancer.

Nurse navigators play an important role in helping patients make informed decisions about their treatment, explains delaRama. It’s important for nurses to empower patients early with the information, resources, and decision-making tools needed for an appropriate shared-decision making model.

For delaRama, this process begins with having all relevant clinical information on the patient’s cancer, knowing the treatment options, and then prioritizing goals and outcomes, such as removing the cancer, maintaining quality of life, and cost. Providing this information up front helps the patient feel more comfortable with their decision.