Congress Abstracts 2006

77

NOVICE TO EXPERT: GUIDING NEW ONCOLOGY NURSES ON THE JOURNEY. Paula Muehlbauer, RN, MSN, OCN^®, Kathleen Castro, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, Nonniekaye Shelburne, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, Georgie Cusack, RN, MSN, AOCN^®, Sandra Phelps, RN, MSN, and Myra Woolery, RN, MSN, CPON^®, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.

Oncology patients are receiving a wider array of treatments than ever before. Additionally, the oncology population is transcending to non-oncology units. Combination modalities have increased the complexity of side effect management and care. Trends across the country indicate less experienced nurses are caring for cancer patients. Nurses need to be provided with a knowledge base to administer safe, comprehensive care.

The purpose of this program was to provide an efficient method to increase nurses' knowledge about oncology issues including pathophysiology, treatment, symptom management, and palliative care. Our institution's approach had been to provide some education in didactic classes with unit-based preceptors teaching the rest. Observations by the oncology Clinical Nurse Specialists found orientation did not allow time to develop a comprehensive oncology knowledge base. The goal was to provide new-to-oncology nurses with a standardized program to increase their skill set and confidence when caring for cancer patients.

We assessed, implemented, evaluated and revised basic oncology education. Consultation with education specialists resulted in development of a program incorporating interactive learning activities with didactic education. The outcome has been a comprehensive weekly series integrating topics from the ONS education blueprint and adult learning principles.

Course evaluations have improved with this new method. Feedback from nurse managers and participants has been positive. The series has been revamped for 2006 after reviewing evaluations from 2005. Additional self-learning activities have been added including the use of existing games from ONS such as "Action Trivia" for chemotherapy.

A program that incorporates self-directed learning, didactic and class interaction results in a skilled, more confident oncology nurse. Offering this class weekly for eight consecutive weeks promotes building of concepts. It ensures all oncology nurses receive consistent cancer related education and allows the preceptors to provide unit based orientation.