Breast cancer is a condition that does not discriminate and therefore runs across all cultural walls. However, the effects of a breast cancer diagnosis among different group have different end-results. For example, the American Cancer Society (ACS[2014]) concluded that despite the higher incidence of breast cancer mortality among Caucasian women, the mortality rate in the black community remains higher than that of their counterparts. Breast cancer is a condition that can be treated if detected earlier, and therefore Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have a responsibility to contribute to early screening especially that of African-Americans to help decrease the disparity in the 5 year survival rate. There is no further need to prove that there is such
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The family nurse practitioner is positioned to conduct assessment, diagnose, counsel, and make referrals when deem necessary, American Nurse Association (2011). As an FNP, there is a privilege in meeting not only the patient, but their family members as well. Therefore, there is a greater opportunity to educate the whole family about the disease process and how it will affect the family. Furthermore, there is also a chance to educate the women of the family and encourage them to undergo genetic testing to determine their potential risk of being diagnosed with the condition. The ACS has provided data stated that African-American are being diagnosed with later stage breast cancer before the age of 40, which is the recommended age for mammograms. Consequently, it might present as a challenge to have insurance companies pay for mammograms before the age of 40 thereby limiting the number of Blacks who can be diagnosed early. However, it remains the responsibility of healthcare providers to advocate on behalf of their patients to obtain maximum results or positive health outcomes. Furthermore, the role of Nurse Practitioners is valuable to breast cancer patients because they can provide these patients with referrals to support groups, counseling, or local organizations whose goal is to help or support newly diagnosed breast cancer patients or
The family nurse practitioner is positioned to conduct assessment, diagnose, counsel, and make referrals when deem necessary, American Nurse Association (2011). As an FNP, there is a privilege in meeting not only the patient, but their family members as well. Therefore, there is a greater opportunity to educate the whole family about the disease process and how it will affect the family. Furthermore, there is also a chance to educate the women of the family and encourage them to undergo genetic testing to determine their potential risk of being diagnosed with the condition. The ACS has provided data stated that African-American are being diagnosed with later stage breast cancer before the age of 40, which is the recommended age for mammograms. Consequently, it might present as a challenge to have insurance companies pay for mammograms before the age of 40 thereby limiting the number of Blacks who can be diagnosed early. However, it remains the responsibility of healthcare providers to advocate on behalf of their patients to obtain maximum results or positive health outcomes. Furthermore, the role of Nurse Practitioners is valuable to breast cancer patients because they can provide these patients with referrals to support groups, counseling, or local organizations whose goal is to help or support newly diagnosed breast cancer patients or