Congress Abstracts 2003

7

CLINICAL INSIGHTS SHARED BY NURSE CANCER SURVIVORS. Joan Agretelis, PhD, RN, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Carol Picard, PhD, RN, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Professions, Charlestown, MA; and Rosanna DeMarco, PhD, RN, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA.

Accounts of the cancer survivorship experiences of healthcare professionals are anecdotal, told in essays in professional journals, electronic list serve discussions, or published autobiographical accounts but, to date, have not been systematically explored (Fedora, 1985; Frank, 1992; Hamilton, 1999; Leigh, 1992; Mullan, 1986; Nally, 1999; Reinhardt, 2000; Scannell, 1985; Wagner, 1996). Nurse cancer survivors live in two worlds—that of patient and that of healthcare professional. From this perspective as “dual insider,” nurse cancer survivors provide a rich understanding of the process of receiving care and negotiating the systems of care delivery. The purpose of this study was to explore the personal and professional experience of cancer survivorship among a group of nurses. It was conducted in a two-step interview process guided by Caring Theory as described by Watson and Newman.

This presentation will focus on the participants’ responses to the second research question regarding the professional impact of cancer survivorship. Within the professional realm, four themes were identified: 1) increased level of compassion, 2) advocacy for change, 3) disclosure, and 4) volunteerism. Study participants related personal care encounters and experiences with the care-delivery system that provide clinical insight and present challenges to their colleagues. Participants’ accounts are used to highlight the clinical wisdom that nurses took from their personal cancer experiences and can be used to inform oncology nursing practice. Examples of exquisite, and absent, care from healthcare providers and colleagues underscore the significance of communication and empathy in delivering care. Descriptions of multiple dimensions of advocacy demonstrate how nurses can influence the healthcare system. Participants’ reports of how, and under what circumstances, they disclosed their own cancer experiences with others, including their patients, show the value that nurses place on being with another human being in the caring moment. Participants’ thoughtful reflection of their personal experiences with cancer and cancer treatment contribute pragmatic guidance that is applicable across the spectrum of nursing practice.