In Switzerland, an average of 620 people are diagnosed with malignant brain tumors every year. In addition to highly specialized medical therapy, the role of the advanced practice nurse (APN) is particularly important in ensuring that patients and their families receive comprehensive treatment and care throughout the course of the disease.
Brain tumor diagnosis
The epileptic seizure in the office hit Daniela Müller (55) out of nowhere. Emergency room at Inselspital, MRI scan... the following days are a blur in her memory. A tumor in her brain is detected, and she has difficulty speaking. Daniela can hardly concentrate. At this point, she meets her advanced practice nurse (APN). This newly introduced, specialized nursing expert will accompany her throughout her treatment. Daniela undergoes surgery in the high-precision operating room at Inselspital within a very short time. Despite the complicated and lengthy operation, Daniela is back home after just a few days.
A few days later, she returns to Inselspital with her husband Remo to discuss the diagnosis. The grandparents take care of their two daughters (aged 12 and 15). The surgeon and the APN reveal the diagnosis: the tumor is malignant and, following surgery, will now also require chemotherapy and radiation. Daniela and her husband Remo feel overwhelmed by the whole situation. Unanswered questions, fears, and uncertainties only become clear after the diagnosis discussion: What should they tell the children? Who will drive Daniela to her daily radiation treatments when she is back home? Will she have another epileptic seizure? Added to this is the overriding existential fear of not surviving the disease or being limited in her physical abilities and thinking... The emotional strain is almost overwhelming for the couple, and they don't know what to do. This is exactly the kind of situation where the APN can help.
What exactly does an APN nursing expert do?
The role of the APN nursing expert was established at the Department of Neurosurgery at Inselspital as part of an innovative project. An APN nursing expert is a nurse who has acquired expert knowledge and clinical skills for advanced nursing practice as part of their training.
Our nursing experts accompany and advise patients and their families in situations that are sometimes highly complex. In this way, they provide targeted support in the fight against cancer and help to supplement and optimize medical care. Their work is very diverse.
An APN nursing expert
- answers questions about diagnosis and therapy
- monitors wound healing
- plans with the family the patient's return to everyday life
- organizes follow-up treatment
- remains the contact person for questions and problems even after the hospital stay