ALLERGY AS A RISK FACTOR FOR NURSING-CARE PROBLEMS IN THE ELDERLY CANCER-PATIENT

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to determine (a) the nursin g diagnoses in elderly patients with cancer and (b) whether elderly ca ncer patients with a current or past history of allergy were at risk f or selected nursing problems. A retrospective clinical data base from 59 patients (32 male, 27 female) with a diagnosis of cancer and an age range of 55-85 years with a mean age of 65.6 years was examined. The most frequently occurring priority nursing diagnoses identified by Cli nical Nurse Specialists (CNS) were Pain, Risk for Infection, and Impai rment of Skin Integrity. When examining the comprehensive list of prio rity and nonpriority nursing diagnoses, identified for these patients with cancer, it was found that those with a history of allergy were si gnificantly more likely to have a high risk for infection than those w ithout a history of allergy. Two other diagnoses (knowledge deficit an d potential fluid volume deficit) occurred in a significant number in the allergy group, but there was no occurrence of these two diagnoses in the nonallergy group. The limitations of assessing immunologic stat us as a part of regular nursing assessments were discussed. Recommenda tions were provided for future research in the area of immunology, agi ng, and nursing diagnoses.