Module 2 - Oncology Nursing

Introduction

This unit provides a comprehensive description of nursing management and care of the patient with cancer. It includes essential elements of education for the patient and family and addresses the principles of supportive and palliative care, death and dying and the nurse’s role in supporting the grief and bereavement processes. Nursing ethics and compliance consideration are included along with detailed description of treatment for oncologic emergencies.

The four (4) modules are designed to help nurses:

• Deliver care that is evidence-based enabling them to practice with accurate scientific knowledge, a solid nursing science foundation, excellent communication, and an understanding of the healthcare system for policy development as they work to prevent, identify, and treat patients with cancer.

• Identify current treatments in interventional and pharmacological therapeutics with a focus on evidence-based holistic nursing care.

• Place emphasis on the development of sound clinical judgment, critical thinking and collaborative care to achieve optimal outcomes for their patients.

• Apply safeguards to support a safe practice environment for both patients and healthcare workers.

The Oncology Nursing course is sponsored by the Innovative Cancer Care Foundation (ICCF) and was developed in partnership with Nurses International (NI) and NextGenU.org (NGU). NextGenU.org courses are competency-based and use learning resources from accredited, world-class organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and International Guidelines, Universities, and peer-reviewed Journals. The Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) is utilized for facilitating distance learning. The course was designed by NextGenU’s Instructional Design team and Nurses International’s team members with particular thanks to Kathleen Capone MS, RN CNE, EdD; Stacen Keating PhD, RN; Lillian A Donnelly RN, MSN, NPD-BC; Lori Kerley, DNP, MS, RN; Caitlin M. Cartmell, MFS, BSN, RN; and Jordan Wilson, MSN, RN-BC.