Necessity of continuing education of nurses in oncology care
Information for nursing staff, 2024, 56(1), 3-9.
P. Gergova1, S. Georgieva2, E. Mineva-Dimitrova2
1 Department of Nursing Surgical Care, Faculty of Health Care
2 Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Public Health Medical University – Pleven
Abstract. During the last two decades the role of the oncology nurse has been transforming from leading comfort and hygiene care to advanced practice with more responsibilities and roles. The aim of the study was to investigate nursing students’, nurses’ and experts’ opinion on the necessity of updating oncology nurse’ competen-cies related to the nurse complex role and standards in oncology care. Material and methods: The need of professional growth was examined from a view point of nursing students, nurses in oncology departments and experts. Data were collected by direct individual self-administered questionnaire among 199 students, 49 nurses and 19 exerts in the fi eld of oncology care. Data processing was performed with Microsoft Offi ce Excel 2019 and SPSS v.26. Results: Proportion of nurses with acquired specialty “oncology care” is low (12.2%). In this relation, nurses respond affi rmatively to the need of actualization competencies through continuing education (59.2%), participation to scientifi c conferences (28.6%) and involvement to qualification courses (16.3%). One of 10 nurses want to start specialization in oncology nursing care. Regular participation to a hospital collegium is an important source of professional information for 6.1% of oncology nurses. Less than a half of nurse students (47.2%) have very good and excellent self-assessment on their specific competencies in oncology care, for 3% it was insufficient; 83.4% of students assess the necessity of continuing education after graduation. Need of enhancing of oncology competencies was confirmed by 100% of experts. Conclusion: The opinion of students, nurses and experts about the importance of continuing education shows a significant similarity. At the same time, relatively few proportion of nurses report an actual participation in continuing education which must be improved.
Key words: oncology care, oncology nursing, nurse competencies in oncology care, standards in oncology care
Address for correspondence: Polya Gergova, e-mail: poliakomitska@abv.bgg