The debate about prostate cancer screening: what nurses need to know.
OBJECTIVE
Special challenges and unique opportunities for nurses in the 21st century related to prostate cancer screening are reviewed.


METHODS
Current health care literature pertaining to prostate cancer screening issues.


CONCLUSIONS
Decisions that weigh the immediate risks of incontinence and erectile dysfunction against the long-term potential risk of death from advanced cancer must be made with conflicting values and incomplete data.


CONCLUSIONS
With their expertise in patient education nurses are in a unique position to communicate the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening in a manner in which patients can understand. A sample nursing care plan is presented for shared decision making.
Weinrich
S
S
School of Nursing, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D012306:Risk