ABSTRACT
This student-authored chapter introduces an anonymised scenario relating to the experience of two student nurses on an oncology ward placement. The students in the scenario, Rachel and Ashley, are charged with planning and delivering care to Fatima, a patient with metastatic breast cancer. Fatima decides to forego further treatment and transition to palliative care. The scenario draws attention to the need to understand and respond to complexity in care. Such complexity is illuminated by the application of all seven pillars of learning to the scenario: the fundamentals of care pillar enables consideration of holistic and person-centred responses to the needs of Fatima, partner Yumi, and her wider family; the ethics and professionalism pillar brings to the fore, challenges which students and registered nurses encounter when patients make decisions which conflict with personal and/or professional values; the evidence for practice pillar details the experience, care and treatment of breast cancer; the no health without mental health pillar focuses attention to the mental well-being of Fatima and the students in relation to the physical, social and cultural challenges; and the global health pillar discusses the incidence and treatment of breast cancer within an international context.
