Magda Boels,Verpleegkundig coördinator Borstkliniek UZ Brussel

The role of the breast nurse in the

multidisciplinary team

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

Co-ordinator

Breast care nurse

Genetic counseling

Services to organise preoperative and check-

up investigations and admission

Physiotherapist

Woundcare/seromapunctions

Psychologist

Breast surgeonsSenoradiologists

Anatomopathologists

Social nurse

Plastic reconstructive surgeons

Self support group (RTR)organisations (VLK,

stichting tegen kanker)

Oncological centreRadiotherapists

Medical oncologists

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

MOC (= multidisciplinary oncological consult)

• weekly discussion

• multidisciplinary team•oncological and gynecological surgeons•senoradiologists•pathologists•radiotherapists•medical oncologists•psychologist•headnurses (hospitalisation ward, breastclinic)•family doctors can attend the meeting

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

Information Supply

• procedure investigations for diagnosis (FNA/trucut/mammotome)

• course of the check-up exams

• information about: operation prosthesis - bra's - swimming suits reconstruction follow-up postoperatively risks and prevention of lymphedema physiotherapy radiotherapy chemotherapy revalidationprograms…

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

Support and Counselling

Keywords• Empathy

• Listening

• Haptonomy

• Hollistic

Supporting, counselling, giving information from the first moment that the patient has contact with the breastclinic until the aftercare:

patient feels support patient knows being understood

• reduces stress• increases quality of life

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

Visit of the patients during hospitalisation

•daily

•in co-operation with the medical and paramedical staff

optimize the support

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

Referral by general practioner or specialist

• making an appointment

• giving results about diagnosis, check-up, …

• organisation of an hospitalisation if necessary

! Those contacts don't replace in any way the contacts between the doctors of the breastclinic and the referring doctors.

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

Conclusion

• good multidisciplinary team

• good cooperation

effective functioning:

obtain a correct diagnosis in a short delay

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

The breast care nurse is linking the different diagnostical and treating teams into one great all-human enveloping

= hollistic unit!

Belgian Breast Meeting, 03-10-2008

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