research topics in oncology nursing

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September/October 2024 - Volume 47 - Issue 5

• Editor-in-Chief: Pamela S. Hinds, PhD, RN, FAAN
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Departments, guest editorial, phd enrollment and its possible impact on oncology nursing science.

Cancer Nursing. 47(5):337-338, September/October 2024.

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Oncology Nursing Research Paper Topics

The realm of oncology nursing research paper topics is crucial and multifaceted. This area delves into a range of issues from cancer pathophysiology, treatment modalities, palliative care, and the psychosocial aspects of cancer, among others. Given the rising prevalence of cancer worldwide, oncology nursing continues to evolve, necessitating ongoing research to optimize patient care, enhance nursing practice, and contribute to the better understanding of this complex disease. This article will provide a comprehensive list of topics for research papers, a detailed article discussing the significance and range of topics oncology nursing offers, and an introduction to iResearchNet’s writing services to aid in the preparation of high-quality research papers.

100 Oncology Nursing Research Paper Topics

Oncology nursing plays a pivotal role in the management of cancer patients, encompassing care during diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life stages. The practice involves not only the physical aspects of care but also the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions, making it a deeply multidimensional and complex field. As a result, the range of oncology nursing research paper topics is vast, encompassing everything from the pathophysiology of cancer to ethical and legal issues in oncology nursing. This comprehensive list of topics aims to inspire and guide students and researchers in exploring the various dimensions of oncology nursing, ultimately contributing to the body of knowledge that informs practice and improves patient outcomes.

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Cancer Pathophysiology and Staging

• The role of oncology nurses in cancer staging.
• Understanding the genetic basis of cancer.
• The impact of tumor microenvironment on cancer progression.
• The role of inflammation in cancer development.
• The significance of tumor markers in cancer diagnosis.
• Understanding the metastatic process.
• The role of immune system in cancer development.
• The impact of hormonal imbalances on cancer development.
• The significance of angiogenesis in tumor growth.
• Understanding the role of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

Cancer Treatment Modalities

• The role of oncology nurses in administering chemotherapy.
• Understanding the mechanisms of action of targeted therapies.
• The role of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.
• The impact of radiation therapy on patient well-being.
• The significance of surgical interventions in cancer treatment.
• Understanding the role of hormonal therapy in cancer treatment.
• The role of stem cell transplantation in cancer treatment.
• The impact of alternative therapies in cancer treatment.
• Understanding the side effects of cancer treatment modalities.
• The role of oncology nurses in managing side effects of cancer treatment.

Palliative and End-of-life Care

• The role of oncology nurses in providing palliative care.
• Understanding the principles of palliative care in oncology nursing.
• The significance of pain management in end-of-life care.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing spiritual care at the end of life.
• The impact of family involvement in end-of-life care.
• Understanding the psychological challenges faced by patients at the end of life.
• The role of advance care planning in end-of-life care.
• The impact of hospice care on the quality of life of cancer patients.
• Understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by oncology nurses in end-of-life care.
• The role of oncology nurses in bereavement support.

Pediatric Oncology Nursing

• The challenges faced by pediatric oncology nurses.
• Understanding the unique needs of pediatric cancer patients.
• The impact of cancer on the developmental stages of children.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing family-centered care to pediatric cancer patients.
• The significance of pain management in pediatric oncology nursing.
• Understanding the psychosocial challenges faced by children with cancer.
• The role of oncology nurses in supporting the siblings of children with cancer.
• The impact of school reintegration on children with cancer.
• Understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by pediatric oncology nurses.
• The role of oncology nurses in palliative care for children with cancer.

Geriatric Oncology Nursing

• The challenges faced by geriatric oncology nurses.
• Understanding the unique needs of older adults with cancer.
• The impact of comorbidities on cancer treatment in older adults.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing individualized care to older adults with cancer.
• The significance of palliative care in geriatric oncology nursing.
• Understanding the psychological challenges faced by older adults with cancer.
• The role of oncology nurses in supporting the caregivers of older adults with cancer.
• The impact of geriatric assessment on cancer treatment planning.
• Understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by geriatric oncology nurses.
• The role of oncology nurses in end-of-life care for older adults with cancer.

Psychosocial Aspects of Cancer

• The impact of cancer diagnosis on mental health.
• Understanding the role of oncology nurses in providing psychosocial support.
• The significance of social support in cancer treatment.
• The role of oncology nurses in supporting patients with body image issues related to cancer treatment.
• The impact of cancer on relationships.
• Understanding the challenges faced by cancer survivors.
• The role of oncology nurses in supporting cancer patients with depression and anxiety.
• The impact of cancer on the quality of life.
• Understanding the psychosocial needs of patients with advanced cancer.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing support to patients with cancer-related fatigue.

Patient Education and Support

• The role of oncology nurses in providing patient education.
• Understanding the principles of patient education in oncology nursing.
• The significance of health literacy in cancer treatment.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing support to patients undergoing genetic testing.
• The impact of patient education on treatment adherence.
• Understanding the challenges faced by patients in making informed decisions about cancer treatment.
• The role of oncology nurses in supporting patients with treatment-related decision-making.
• The impact of patient education on the quality of life of cancer patients.
• Understanding the information needs of cancer patients.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing support to patients during clinical trials.

Oncology Nursing Practice and Care Models

• The impact of evidence-based practice on oncology nursing.
• Understanding the role of oncology nurses in multidisciplinary teams.
• The significance of care coordination in oncology nursing.
• The role of oncology nurses in developing care plans for cancer patients.
• The impact of nurse-led clinics on the quality of care for cancer patients.
• Understanding the challenges faced by oncology nurses in resource-limited settings.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing culturally sensitive care.
• The impact of telemedicine on oncology nursing practice.
• Understanding the role of oncology nurses in clinical trials.
• The role of oncology nurses in quality improvement initiatives.

Ethical and Legal Issues in Oncology Nursing

• Understanding the ethical dilemmas faced by oncology nurses.
• The role of oncology nurses in obtaining informed consent.
• The significance of patient autonomy in oncology nursing.
• The role of oncology nurses in ethical decision-making.
• The impact of legal issues on oncology nursing practice.
• Understanding the challenges faced by oncology nurses in addressing end-of-life issues.
• The role of oncology nurses in protecting patient privacy.
• The impact of ethical dilemmas on the quality of care provided by oncology nurses.
• Understanding the role of ethics committees in oncology nursing practice.
• The role of oncology nurses in advocating for patients’ rights.

Emerging Trends in Oncology Nursing

• The impact of technological advancements on oncology nursing practice.
• Understanding the role of oncology nurses in precision medicine.
• The significance of immunotherapy in cancer treatment.
• The role of oncology nurses in the management of cancer-related fatigue.
• The impact of mobile applications on cancer care.
• Understanding the role of oncology nurses in the management of side effects of immunotherapy.
• The role of oncology nurses in supporting patients undergoing CAR-T cell therapy.
• The impact of artificial intelligence on oncology nursing practice.
• Understanding the future directions of oncology nursing research.
• The role of oncology nurses in promoting health equity in cancer care.

The importance of research in oncology nursing cannot be overstated. It is through research that we can better understand the needs of cancer patients, develop more effective interventions, and ultimately improve the quality of care provided. This list of oncology nursing research paper topics is by no means exhaustive, but it should serve as a starting point for students and researchers looking to explore this vital field. We encourage you to delve into these topics, contribute to the body of knowledge, and play a part in shaping the future of oncology nursing.

The Range of Oncology Nursing Research Paper Topics

Oncology nursing is a specialized field of nursing that focuses on the care of individuals with cancer and their families. It is a profession that requires a comprehensive understanding of the cancer disease process, strong clinical skills, and the ability to handle emotionally charged situations. The significance of oncology nursing cannot be overstated, as nurses play a critical role in the cancer care continuum, from prevention and early detection to treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. This article will discuss the importance of oncology nursing and examine various aspects of the profession, including cancer treatment modalities, palliative and end-of-life care, and the psychosocial aspects of cancer. It will also highlight a range of oncology nursing research paper topics that are pertinent to the field.

Significance of Oncology Nursing

Oncology nurses are integral members of the cancer care team, providing comprehensive care to patients and their families. They play a key role in administering treatments, managing side effects, providing education and support, and coordinating care. Nurses are often the first point of contact for patients, and they play a critical role in helping patients navigate the complex world of cancer care. They also serve as advocates for patients, ensuring that their needs and preferences are communicated to the rest of the healthcare team.

Cancer treatment is complex and multifaceted, often involving a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies. Oncology nurses play a key role in administering these treatments and managing their side effects. For example, chemotherapy, a common cancer treatment, is often administered intravenously by oncology nurses. They must have a thorough understanding of the drugs being administered, their potential side effects, and any contraindications. Moreover, oncology nurses need to be skilled in assessing patients for any adverse reactions during and after treatment. This aspect of oncology nursing is critical as it helps in ensuring the safety and well-being of the patients.

Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Palliative care is an essential component of cancer care that focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment. It is not only reserved for patients at the end of life but is an integral part of comprehensive cancer care from the time of diagnosis. Oncology nurses play a crucial role in providing palliative care by managing symptoms, providing psychosocial support, and coordinating care with other healthcare providers. End-of-life care, a subset of palliative care, focuses on providing comfort and support to patients in the final stages of life. Oncology nurses play a key role in providing compassionate end-of-life care, managing symptoms, and supporting patients and their families during this challenging time.

A cancer diagnosis can be incredibly stressful for patients and their families, leading to a range of psychosocial issues such as anxiety, depression, and fear. Oncology nurses play a crucial role in addressing these issues by providing emotional support, counseling, and education. They also play a key role in assessing patients for psychosocial distress and referring them to appropriate resources, such as social workers or psychologists. Addressing the psychosocial aspects of cancer is essential for ensuring the overall well-being of patients and their families.

Research is a fundamental aspect of oncology nursing, as it contributes to the development of evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes. There are a wide range of oncology nursing research paper topics that can be explored, from the effectiveness of different treatment modalities to the psychosocial needs of cancer patients and their families. Here are a few examples of oncology nursing research paper topics:

• The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in managing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
• The impact of psychosocial interventions on the quality of life of cancer patients.
• The role of oncology nurses in providing palliative care to patients with advanced cancer.
• The effectiveness of patient education interventions in improving treatment adherence in cancer patients.
• The impact of nurse-led survivorship programs on the quality of life of cancer survivors.

These are just a few examples of the many oncology nursing research paper topics that can be explored. Research in this area is essential for developing interventions and strategies that improve the quality of care provided to cancer patients and their families.

Oncology nursing is a critical aspect of cancer care that involves providing comprehensive care to patients and their families throughout the cancer care continuum. It encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, from administering treatments and managing side effects to providing palliative and end-of-life care and addressing the psychosocial aspects of cancer. Research in oncology nursing is essential for developing evidence-based practices that improve patient outcomes. There are a wide range of oncology nursing research paper topics that can be explored, contributing to the body of knowledge in this vital field.

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• Oncology Nursing Forum
• Number 2 / March 2017

Establishing Priorities for Oncology Nursing Research: Nurse and Patient Collaboration

Ann Gallagher

Mairead MacKenzie

Purpose/Objectives: To obtain consensus on priorities for oncology nursing research in the United Kingdom.

Design: A three-round online Delphi survey.

Setting: Oncology nurses were invited via the United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) database. Patient participation was invited through patient organizations.

Sample: 50 oncology nurses and 18 patients.

Methods: Eligible and consenting individuals reported five priorities for oncology nursing research (round 1), rated their level of agreement with them (round 2), and restated and revised their responses in light of the group’s responses (round 3). Consensus was defined as 80% agreement.

Main Research Variables: Research priorities for oncology nursing as reported by oncology nurses and patients.

Findings: Consensus was reached on 50 of 107 research priorities. These priorities reflected the entire cancer pathway, from diagnosis to palliative care. Highest agreement was reached within and across groups on the need for research relating to prevention, screening, early diagnosis, and psychological care across the cancer trajectory. Little consensus was reached regarding symptoms and side effects. Some evident divergence existed: Only patients reached consensus regarding palliative care research, and only nurses reached consensus regarding eHealth and technology research.

Conclusions: Oncology nurses and patients do not necessarily prioritize the same research areas. Prevention, screening, and early diagnosis are of the highest priority for future research among oncology nurses and patients.

Implications for Nursing: Patients usually play little part in priority setting for research. This study provided the opportunity for meaningful patient and nurse involvement in setting a research agenda for oncology nursing that is relevant and beneficial to oncology nurses and patients.

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Cancer care is in continual flux, driven by advances in science, technology, and treatment. Improvements have been made across cancer services, including in the areas of prevention, screening (e.g., home testing kits for colorectal cancer), surgery (e.g., robotic surgical systems), chemotherapy (e.g., cancer immunotherapy), and enhanced recovery and survivorship programs. Many innovations have enabled care to be delivered closer to people’s homes with benefits in terms of patient convenience and cost savings for service providers. However, innovations in cancer care alter patients’ interactions with cancer services, as well as the care they require. Nursing care needs to be responsive to service changes and patient outcomes, and it should be underpinned by contemporary and rigorous evidence addressing key challenges for nurses and patients. Because finite resources are available, research needs to be strategic and directed in such a way to ensure an appropriate evidence base that is fit for purpose and targeted at key priorities. Consequently, nurses and other health professionals in cancer care must periodically reflect on and seek consensus regarding priorities for future research—the focus of this article.

Research priorities have been surveyed and reported within oncology nursing since the 1970s (Oberst, 1978). More recently, consensus-building exercises have been undertaken in the United States, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Norway, Australia, and across Europe (Barrett, Kristjanson, Sinclair, & Hyde, 2001; Browne, Robinson, & Richardson, 2002; Cohen, Harle, Woll, Despa, & Munsell, 2004; Grundy & Ghazi, 2009; McIlfatrick & Keeney, 2003; Rustøen & Schjølberg, 2000; Soanes, Gibson, Bayliss, & Hannan, 2000; Soanes, Gibson, Hannan, & Bayliss, 2003; Wright, Corner, Hopkinson, & Foster, 2006). Typically, a Delphi survey design—a validated consensus method—has been used. Delphi surveys seek to identify and attain consensus on priorities through an iterative process of about three questionnaire rounds. The Delphi process usually begins with open questions requiring participants to make recommendations. Subsequent rounds are more focused and request participants to rate their agreement with proposed recommendations. Participants are provided with results from previous rounds, allowing them to re-rate their agreement until consensus is reached.

Participants in expert panels for consensus studies related to oncology nursing have typically been oncology nurses, although some researchers—having established nurses’ priorities—have sought to validate findings from the user perspective (Soanes et al., 2003). A similar trend is evident in other healthcare disciplines. A systematic mapping exercise of research prioritization in healthcare by the James Lind Alliance (Stewart & Oliver, 2008) determined that research priorities are driven more frequently by clinicians than by patients. Only 18% of the 258 studies included in the James Lind Alliance mapping exercise elicited patients’ views on research; the remainder solely sought those of clinicians. In addition, clinicians and patients were determined to identify research topics in isolation. Few studies (19%) incorporated perspectives of both groups. This has shortcomings because research priorities perceived as important by patients may be omitted.

The importance of increasing opportunity for patients and the public to participate in and benefit from research is evident in the formation of national advisory groups that support active public involvement in health and social care research (e.g., INVOLVE in the United Kingdom, National Institutes of Health Director’s Council of Public Representatives in the United States, European Cancer Patient Coalition in Europe).

Patient involvement in priority setting for nursing research has been recognized as valuable (Soanes et al., 2000). Having completed a Delphi survey of nurses’ priorities for nursing research across various pediatric settings (i.e., hematology, oncology, immunology, and infectious diseases), Soanes et al. (2000) then consulted with doctors and parents of children who were receiving treatment for mainly hematologic or oncologic conditions on the priorities identified (Soanes et al., 2003). The majority of parents confidently proposed priorities without assistance and only occasionally needed clarification of terms. In addition, general agreement on the ranking of top priorities existed among nurses, doctors, and parents. However, although Soanes et al. (2003) sought to validate their prioritization of nursing research with stakeholders, including parents, their work was not strongly collaborative; users were not involved in initial rounds of the Delphi survey. This may have narrowed topics promoted for consideration and omitted those of importance to parents.

Corner et al. (2007) conducted a consultation with people living with cancer in the United Kingdom concerning future research. An exploratory, qualitative approach, which combined focus groups with an adapted nominal group technique to structure discussion and achieve consensus, was used to elicit patients’ views (Corner et al., 2007). This study demonstrated that people living with cancer “are able to engage with a broad range of issues relating to science, medicine, health and social care, the purpose and value of cancer research and can identify and agree on priorities” (Corner et al., 2007, p. 878). Importantly, a mismatch was reported between patient-identified research priorities that attained consensus and the U.K. research portfolio.

Until the current study, oncology nursing had not provided an example of collective priority setting by nurses and patients. However, examples of such collaboration exist in the U.K. physiotherapy (Rankin, Rushton, Olver, & Moore, 2012) and osteopathic professions (Rushton, Fawkes, Carnes, & Moore, 2014). Rankin et al. (2012) and Rushton et al. (2014) concluded that inclusion of multiple stakeholders in consensus seeking increased saliency of the priorities identified.

The aim of the current study was to establish priorities for U.K. oncology nursing research through nurses’ and patients’ collaboration in a Delphi survey. The intention was that identified priorities would underpin a research agenda that (a) is relevant and beneficial to oncology nurses and patients, (b) is widely implemented, and (c) has the capacity to drive forward the discipline of oncology nursing for the benefit of patients. The survey sought to answer the following questions:

•  What are U.K. oncology nurses’ research priorities?

•  What are the research priorities of people living with cancer in the United Kingdom?

•  Do oncology nurses and people living with cancer in the United Kingdom have similar priorities for oncology nursing research?

•  Are oncology nurses and people living with cancer in the United Kingdom able to reach consensus on priorities for oncology nursing research?

A three-round online Delphi survey was undertaken and was facilitated through SmartSurvey, a U.K.-based provider of digital survey solutions. The Delphi technique is a process of structured group communication designed to reach consensus among a panel of experts; it is an iterative process of two or more rounds where selected experts are asked to generate and then prioritize research topics. This approach enables experts who are geographically dispersed to participate in the process with relatively little inconvenience and expense in terms of time and finance. The semi-anonymity and remoteness provided by the Delphi approach allows individual opinions to be expressed without the influence of dominant fellow experts, facilitating progression from individual opinion to group consensus.

Nurse participants: A panel of oncology nursing experts was purposively selected from the United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) database by a medical communications agency that acts as UKONS’s secretariat. UKONS is an organization run by oncology nurses, with more than 3,400 registered members from across the United Kingdom. UKONS’s members were eligible for invitation to the expert panel if they were a resident of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales; held the job title of clinical nurse specialist, advanced practitioner, or nurse consultant, or were a university academic; had conducted most of their current work within the area of adult oncology; and had at least five years’ experience in cancer care. The medical communications agency selected a purposively diverse sample (in regard to geographic location and speciality [oncology versus hematology]) from those potentially eligible and invited them, via email, to participate in the survey.

Patient participants: Patient experts were sought through five patient organizations: (a) Independent Cancer Patients’ Voice, a patient advocate group that aims to bring patients’ voices into clinical research ( www.independentcancerpatientsvoice.org.uk ); (b) The Rarer Cancers Foundation, an organization that raised awareness about less common cancers and acted as a gateway, directing patients to additional avenues of support and information; (c) Kidney Cancer Support Network, a patient-led network of people living with kidney cancer, as well as caregivers and families affected by kidney cancer ( www.kcsn.org.uk ); (d) Cancer Partnership Research Group in the Kent Surrey and Sussex Clinical Research Network, a partnership group whose main aim was to involve patients and caregivers in cancer research; and (e) North Trent Cancer Research Network Consumer Research Panel, a consumer research panel whose purpose is to engage consumers, including people living with cancer and caregivers, in the process of research ( www.ntcrp.org.uk/page3.html ). Eligible patients were aged older than 18 years; resided in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales; and had received a diagnosis of cancer. These patient organizations promoted the study through social media and online patients’ forums, as well as via email invitations. Potentially eligible participants (nurses and patients) emailed the research team to express their interest in participating. They provided written consent and completed a screening questionnaire to confirm eligibility.

Round 2: Two members of the research team aggregated participants’ priorities—recorded in response to the round 1 survey—through content analysis. They coded data independently, then compared and discussed their coding until agreement was reached regarding the statements of research priorities to be included in the round 2 questionnaire. Other members of the team reviewed this process to ensure that identified research priorities accurately incorporated and reflected responses to round 1.

Participants were asked to indicate how strongly they agreed with each listed research priority on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (strongly disagree). Priorities were grouped in themes for ease of organization. A free text box was available at the end of each theme for participants to add comments or propose additional questions or priorities for that particular theme.

Round 3: In round 3, the survey comprised all research priorities from round 2 with the addition of new items raised by participants. In this final round, participants were also sent their own response to each research priority from round 2, as well as the average group response to each. This offered an opportunity for participants to restate or change their response from round 2 in light of the group response.

Agreement has not been reached over the appropriate level of consensus to adopt in Delphi studies, although 75% has been proposed as the minimum (Keeney, Hasson, & McKenna, 2006). In the current study, consensus was defined as 80% or more respondents rating an item as “agree” or “strongly agree.”

The medical communications agency that acts as UKONS’s secretariat emailed consenting eligible participants the link to each of the three online survey questionnaires in turn, alongside their unique participant number. Three reminder emails were sent over three weeks to nonresponders, unless they requested not to be contacted again. Only an authorized member of the medical communications agency and study researchers had access to respondents’ data.

The Delphi survey in round 1 was emailed to 70 participants and generated a response from 68 of them (97% response rate). Respondents listed their top five priorities for nursing research; analysis of these data generated 95 statements that fell within 12 themes. These comprised the statements incorporated within the round 2 questionnaire. The round 2 questionnaire was mailed to the 68 responders to round 1 and generated a 91% response rate (n = 62). Responses to the free text questions generated an additional 12 priorities; these were incorporated within the final (round 3) questionnaire. The round 3 questionnaire was mailed to the 68 responders to round 1 and generated 60 responses (88% response rate). All 18 patients responded to each of the questionnaires. The research proposal and accompanying documents were submitted to the University of Surrey Ethics Committee for ethical scrutiny, and approval was obtained before recruitment commenced (UEC/2015/059/FHMS).

Responses to the first Delphi survey questionnaire were analyzed thematically. Thereafter, in rounds 2 and 3, responses to items (research priorities) were coded (1 = strongly agree, 2 = agree, 3 = no opinion, 4 = disagree, 5 = strongly disagree). These data were analyzed descriptively to generate percentage agreement with, as well as mean values and standard deviations for, each priority.

The 107 priorities for oncology nursing research—proposed by participants during the Delphi survey process—fell within 12 broad themes: prevention, screening, and diagnosis; treatment decision making; symptoms and side effects; psychosocial care needs; communication; survivorship and rehabilitation; palliative and end-of-life care; the cancer workforce; service models; diversity and inequality; family and carers; and dissemination and implementation.

Nurses proposed 71 of the research priorities, patients proposed 14, and 22 were proposed by both groups. Priorities that were promoted only by patients—that would have been omitted had nurses been the only contributors—fell within four broad areas: (a) management of symptoms where little is known either about mechanisms responsible for their onset or their pharmacologic management (fatigue and peripheral neuropathy); (b) role of patient-led factors (diet and faith) in patient well-being; (c) interface with palliative care services; and (d) rehabilitation (including return to work) and follow-up.

Consensus Across Nurses and Patients

Consensus was reached on 47% (n = 50) of the 107 research priorities (see Table 3). Of the 14 proposed only by patients, 7 reached consensus across patients and nurses. These related to (a) management of peripheral neuropathy, (b) impact of diet on cancer treatment and outcomes, (c) when and how palliative care services are introduced, (d) integration of palliative care within oncology services, (e) structured rehabilitation and support programs for patients living with or after cancer, (f) interventions to facilitate return to work following treatment, and (g) patients’ experiences of acute oncology services. All priorities relating to prevention, screening, and early diagnosis (seven items) and dissemination and implementation (one item) gained consensus. This was in marked contrast to themes related to symptoms and side effects and service models; few research priorities within these achieved consensus (27% and 18%, respectively).

Nurses and patients agreed that factors affecting patients’ early presentation with cancer symptoms (97%), followed by factors affecting early diagnosis of cancer (93%), were top research priorities. The availability of psychosocial support services across the cancer trajectory, particularly recurrence, was a priority (93%), as was management of anxiety and uncertainty following cancer treatment (93%). The role of primary care in managing post-treatment side effects and concerns was also listed as a priority (93%), along with priorities related to family-centered care, notably how to help parents with cancer to support their children (93%) and factors influencing cancer survivors’ integration back into family life following cancer and its treatment (90%).

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Consensus Among Nurse Participants

Top priorities for research reaching high consensus within the body of nurse participants include factors affecting patients’ early presentation with cancer symptoms (95%); factors affecting early diagnosis of cancer (93%); availability of psychological support services across the cancer trajectory, particularly recurrence (93%); management of anxiety and uncertainty following cancer treatment (93%); ways to evidence the cost effectiveness of clinical nurse specialists (93%); and factors influencing cancer survivors’ integration back into family life following cancer and its treatment (93%). The use of eHealth and technology to manage symptoms at home was identified as a top priority by nurses (91%) but not by patients (72%).

Consensus Among Patient Participants

The top priorities for research among patient participants reflect four priorities related to palliative and end-of-life care that were not scored as top priorities for nurses: prognostication and timing of referral to palliative care (100% agreement by patients and 71% agreement by nurses); models of end-of-life care in the community (100% agreement by patients and 67% agreement by nurses), access to specialist and palliative care services at the end of life (100% agreement by patients and 69% agreement by nurses), and integration of palliative care within oncology services (94% agreement by patients and 74% agreement by nurses).

Other top research priorities identified by patient participants that did not reach high consenus within the body of nurse participants include benefits versus risks of adjuvant treatment in patients with moderate risk of recurrence (100% agreement by patients and 79% agreement by nurses); cognitive changes associated with cancer treatment recurrence (100% agreement by patients and 79% agreement by nurses); when and how palliative care services are introduced (100% agreement by patients and 76% agreement by nurses); and patient experience and quality of life across the cancer pathway (100% agreement by patients and 79% agreement by nurses).

Corner et al. (2007) questioned who should be at the table when decisions are made about expenditures for future cancer research. The current authors’ research strongly supports the imperative for patients’ presence during such decision making. In addition, this work suggests that, when undertaking a Delphi survey, patients should be included throughout the process—not merely drawn on to validate priorities previously identified by health professionals. Had nurses in this study identified priorities that patients solely validated later, seven items that reached consensus would have been omitted. These seven items related to symptoms and side effects (n = 2), survivorship and rehabilitation (n = 2), service models (n = 2), and communication (n = 1).

Some of the top priorities for oncology nursing research identified in this study have been previously noted. Prevention, screening, and early diagnosis of cancer have been prioritized by Oncology Nursing Society members (LoBiondo-Wood et al., 2014), U.S. oncology nurses (Ropka et al., 2002), people living with cancer in the United Kingdom (Corner et al., 2007), and U.K. oncology nurses (Grundy & Ghazi, 2009). Likewise, the need for research into optimal management of patients’ psychological responses to cancer and its treatment has been stressed before in consensus-building exercises in the United Kingdom, Norway, the United States, and across Europe (Browne et al., 2002; Corner et al., 2007; Ropka et al., 2002; Rustøen & Schjølberg, 2000). That some of these areas had been identified years ago and remain a priority in the present day could reflect the research community’s lack of responsiveness to prioritization exercises, poor implementation of research findings in practice, or challenges encountered by cancer services in meeting the needs of the public and patients.

Although research into cancer screening and early diagnosis may have been neglected in the early 2000s, this is not the case now. In the United Kingdom, Cancer Research U.K. has funded a program of research into early diagnosis through its National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative. Likewise, in the United States, a parallel program of research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health through its Early Detection Research Network. Knowledge of these initiatives could have raised professional and public understanding of the importance of research in these areas and prompted participants in this study to voice support for its continuance.

Conversely, psychological responses to cancer have been the target of psychosocial research for decades (Galway et al., 2012). Consequently, that research in psychosocial care remains of such high priority is, to some extent, surprising, begging the question of how well research evidence in this field is being implemented in practice, or whether patients have timely access to psychological support services according to need across the cancer pathway.

The results of this Delphi survey suggest that a change in focus is needed regarding research into symptom management. In addition to more traditionally researched symptoms such as pain, cognitive changes and neuropathy were also recognized as requiring prioritization. This may reflect that management of other symptoms has been sufficiently invested in. These results support a previous priority-setting exercise in which oncology nurses identified neuropathy and cognitive impairment as two of the five most difficult symptoms to manage, and neuropathy as one of the most distressing symptoms for patients (LoBiondo-Wood et al., 2014).

Novel priorities arising from the current authors’ research and not emphasized in previous consensus-building exercises include the need for research to help patients with cancer support their children, clarify what services patients would like from nurse specialists, and identify cancer therapies with identical benefit but lower side effect profiles. The effect of cancer on the entire family is increasingly recognized and reflected in publications addressing the needs of family caregivers (Waldron, Janke, Bechtel, Ramirez, & Cohen, 2013). However, little of this research has focused on the needs of children, despite recognition that, without intervention, cancer treatment and/or the death of a parent can have lifelong consequences for children (Ellis, Dowrick, & Lloyd-Williams, 2013). Consequently, this being a research priority for oncology nursing would be entirely appropriate.

Articulation of the role provided by and the cost effectiveness of clinical nurse specialists is another research priority that has not been highlighted before. That it has now been identified, in a time of austerity, is not of particular surprise. Clinical nurse specialists’ contribution tends to come under scrutiny when healthcare resources are scarce (Tarrant, Sinfield, Agarwal, & Baker, 2008).

Participants in this study are likely aware of new treatments (surgical and pharmaceutical) that are available. These open up the possibility for differing and more personalized treatments that can potentially enhance outcome while minimizing side effects. This may explain the expert panel’s prioritization of research into therapies with equivocal outcome yet reduced side effect profiles.

In this study, patients (unlike nurses) placed particular emphasis on the need for research into the interface between cancer and palliative care services, with 4 of patients’ top 12 priorities achieving 100% consensus relating to when and how palliative care services are introduced, prognostication and timing of referral to palliative care, access to specialist and palliative care services at the end of life, and models of end-of-life care in the community that integrate health and social care. This indicates that patients believe improvements are possible regarding how and when palliative care services are introduced. Nurses may not have emphasized palliative care in the same way because the exercise aimed to prioritize research areas for oncology rather than palliative care nursing.

In contrast to patients, nurses reached consensus on the need for research to highlight the role of eHealth and technology in remote symptom monitoring. Nurses may have emphasized this area knowing that technology will increasingly be used to promote health across the lifespan and to enable supported self-management during treatment for cancer. This is an area that patients may be unaware of. However, this may change as people integrate technology more into everyday life.

Limitations

While the current study was strengthened by having contributions from nurses and patients and a high response rate across the survey rounds (88%–97%), its limitations must be acknowledged. Although patients participated in the Delphi survey, fewer did so than nurses (18 versus 50, respectively). In addition, these patients, like the nurse participants, mostly identified as being White. Undoubtedly, the views of people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups are underrepresented, and these populations may have priorities that differ from those presented. Future consensus-seeking exercises should aim to purposively sample people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic minority groups who are living with cancer or who are providing care to them. Sufficient time should be built into the research process to ensure that these groups (the members of which may take more time to recruit) are reached. The importance of recruiting a diverse sample, including those from minority groups, should be emphasized when approaching eligible participants; this may help engagement with, and participation in, the research. The views of family members of people with cancer were not sought in this study and so are omitted. Because cancer is a family issue, their views are important to consider.

Implications for Nursing

This study demonstrates that people living with cancer provide a valuable contribution to informing research agendas for oncology nursing and should have a voice in future priority setting. Within this study, patient experts indicated a greater consensus for issues regarding palliative and end-of-life care than nurse experts. The importance of timely referral to palliative care, models of end-of-life care that integrate health and social care, and access to specialist palliative care services at the end of life were unanimously considered to be important future research priorities by patient experts.

This Delphi survey also highlighted the importance of preparing nurses to support cancer survivors’ engagement with evolving models of supportive care services, which may increasingly be delivered in the community or via remote services. A potential increase in eHealth interventions within cancer supportive care will have implications in terms of the training needs of the oncology nursing workforce; this warrants consideration.

This consensus-building exercise demonstrates that nurses and patients support dedication of continued research resources to investigate issues around early presentation and diagnosis of cancer. As Corner et al. (2007) explained, many patients opine that “prevention is better than cure” (p. 878). The current authors’ research would also support an examination into the interface between cancer and palliative care, the role of primary care in cancer service provision, family-based services, optimal services for patients’ rehabilitation and psychological well-being as they live with and beyond a cancer diagnosis, and the role of eHealth and technology in supported self-management.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Delphi panel members who gave generously of their expertise and time to reach consensus regarding research priorities of U.K. nurses and patients.

About the Author(s)

Cox is a research fellow, Arber is a senior lecturer, and Gallagher is a professor, all in the School of Health Sciences and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey in Guildford; MacKenzie is an independent patient advocate in Bookham, Surrey; and Ream is a professor and director of research in the School of Health Sciences and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey, all in the United Kingdom. This research was funded by the United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society. Cox, Arber, Gallagher, and Ream contributed to the conceptualization and design and provided the analysis. Cox and Ream completed the data collection. Cox provided statistical support. All of the authors contributed to the manuscript preparation. Cox can be reached at [email protected] , with copy to editor at [email protected] . Submitted June 2016. Accepted for publication July 18, 2016.

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40+ Oncology Nursing Research Topics for Nursing Scholars

• Carla Johnson
• August 24, 2023
• Writing Guides for MSN students

Oncology nursing stands as a distinct realm within the healthcare domain, serving as a vital conduit in the holistic care journey of cancer patients. Within this compassionate and multifaceted nursing arena, professionals cater to patients from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and even end-of-life care . For nursing students harboring aspirations of effecting positive change in the lives of cancer patients, gaining comprehensive insights into the nuances of oncology nursing becomes paramount. This article plunges into oncology nursing research topics, dissecting key research inquiries and furnishing many tailored projects and concepts for aspiring nursing scholars.

Navigating Oncology Nursing Terrain

The oncology nurses emerge as the beating heart within the intricate tapestry of cancer care teams. Not only do they offer medical assistance, but they also provide unwavering emotional support to patients and their families during the most arduous junctures. Operating in diverse settings like hospitals, clinics, and hospices, these specialized caregivers collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, social workers, and other healthcare stalwarts to orchestrate comprehensive patient care .

PICOT Questions in Oncology Nursing

• P: Adults undergoing chemotherapy; I: Mindfulness meditation intervention; C: Standard supportive measures; O: Decreased chemotherapy-induced anxiety; T: 8 weeks. Can mindfulness meditation interventions mitigate chemotherapy-induced anxiety among adult patients undergoing treatment?
• P: Individuals in palliative care settings; I: Early integration of advanced care planning; C: Conventional palliative care protocols; O: Augmented end-of-life decision-making; T: 1 year. How does early integration of advanced care planning impact end-of-life decision-making for individuals in palliative care settings?
• P: Oncology nursing practitioners; I: Training in effective communication; C: Absence of communication training; O: Enhanced patient-nurse interactions; T: 6 months. How does training in effective communication for oncology nurses influence patient-centered interactions and satisfaction?
• P: Survivors of breast cancer; I: Virtual support group participation; C: Physical attendance in support groups; O: Elevated quality of life; T: 3 months. Are virtual support groups as efficacious as physical support groups in ameliorating the quality of life for breast cancer survivors?
• P: Terminal cancer patients; I: Integration of music therapy; C: Usual supportive care; O: Reduced pain and enhanced emotional states; T: 4 weeks. Can music therapy effectively alleviate pain and uplift emotional well-being among terminal cancer patients under hospice care?
• P: Workforce in oncology nursing; I: Resilience training initiative; C: Absence of resilience training; O: Elevated job satisfaction and diminished burnout; T: 1 year. What is the influence of a resilience training initiative on job satisfaction and burnout rates among professionals in oncology nursing?
• P: Pediatric oncology patients; I: Integration of art therapy ; C: No utilization of art therapy; O: Reduced emotional distress; T: Throughout treatment duration. How does art therapy’s integration correlate with diminished emotional distress among pediatric oncology patients undergoing treatment?
• P: Family caregivers of cancer patients; I: Online caregiver education modules; C: Conventional in-person education methods; O: Enhanced caregiving skills and reduced stress levels; T: 6 months. How do online caregiver education modules fare in comparison to traditional in-person methods in enhancing caregiving skills and reducing stress among family caregivers of cancer patients?
• P: Cancer survivors; I: Adoption of survivorship care plans; C: Absence of structured survivorship care; O: Fostering prolonged wellness and compliance with follow-up regimens; T: 2 years. How do survivorship care plans contribute to long-term wellness and adherence to follow-up care among cancer survivors?
• P: Nursing staff in oncology; I: Implementation of evidence-based pain management protocols; C: Utilization of non-standardized pain management strategies; O: Elevated pain control and heightened patient satisfaction; T: 1 year. What implications arise from implementing evidence-based pain management protocols on pain control and patient satisfaction within oncology nursing settings?

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Project Concepts

• Crafting personalized symptom management strategies for cancer patients.
• Elevating patient education methodologies for autonomous chemotherapy care .
• Evaluating the potency of complementary therapies in cancer care realms.
• Infusing tailored pain assessment tools for patients in oncology.
• Framing survivorship care initiatives targeting young adult cancer survivors.
• Formulating culturally attuned guidelines for end-of-life care across diverse populations.
• Investigating the ramifications of exercise interventions on cancer-induced fatigue.
• Probing the role of oncology nurses as enablers in clinical trial facilitation.
• Delving into the advantages of pet therapy in pediatric oncology environments.
• Pioneering strategies to enhance medication adherence among cancer patients.

Concepts for Nursing Capstone Projects

• Sculpting an encompassing support regimen for families of pediatric cancer patients.
• Scrutinizing ethical quandaries in end-of-life care verdicts for oncology patients.
• Investigating the dynamics of telehealth adoption in oncology follow-up care.
• Fabricating guidelines for seamless communication among interdisciplinary oncology collectives.
• Analyzing the financial burden’s repercussions on treatment compliance among cancer patients.
• Engineering a pain management blueprint for advanced-stage cancer patients.
• Untangling the psychological aftermath of survivorship among long-standing cancer survivors.
• Analyzing the stumbling blocks to early cancer detection within underserved communities.
• Assessing the efficiency of mindfulness-based interventions in mitigating oncology nurse burnout.
• Developing a training framework to tackle cultural competence in oncology caregiving.

Notions for Nursing Research Paper Themes

• Unveiling genetic counseling’s role in cancer risk comprehension.
• Evaluating the ripple effect of social support on cancer treatment outcomes.
• Tackling ethical conundrums in pain management for terminally ill cancer patients.
• Unpacking the psychosocial needs of adolescents grappling with cancer.
• Assessing the quality of life among cancer survivors over extended spans.
• Pondering the nutritional influence on chemotherapy tolerance and effectiveness.
• Navigating diverse cultural viewpoints on end-of-life care decisions for cancer patients.
• Proposing innovative strategies for countering chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
• Grappling with communication challenges amid pediatric oncology nurse-patient interactions.
• Sketching effective palliative care frameworks for those afflicted by rare and aggressive cancers.

Oncology Nursing Research Questions

• How does oncology nursing education factor into patient outcomes?
• What psychological battles confront oncology nurses in end-of-life caregiving?
• In what ways can oncology nurses adeptly address patient apprehensions about treatment side effects?
• What techniques amplify the efficacy of patient-nurse communication in oncology?
• What hinders compliance with pain management protocols among cancer patients?
• How does the presence of psychosocial bolster influence cancer treatment verdicts?
• What avenues exist to augment coping mechanisms for family caregivers within oncology?
• What deters cancer patients from actively engaging in clinical trials?
• How can oncology nurses tailor their approach to accommodate LGBTQ+ cancer patients’ unique needs?
• What facets underlie oncology nurses’ role as advocates in the healthcare system?

Notions & Examples for Essay Topics in Oncology Nursing

• Navigating the psychological aftermath of a cancer diagnosis on patients.
• The moral tightrope in end-of-life care choices for cancer patients.
• Pioneering family caregiver support for pediatric oncology patients.
• Innovations in pain alleviation for actively treated cancer patients.
• Bridging cultural chasms in oncology nursing: Challenges and remedies.
• Survivorship care plans: Charting the odyssey beyond cancer treatment.
• Delving into the unmet needs of adolescent cancer patients: A blind spot?
• Telehealth’s horizons in oncology: Prospects and hurdles in post-treatment care.
• The psychological toll of financial burden on cancer patients’ mental well-being.
• Patient-centered communication: The cornerstone of effective oncology nursing.
• Unveiling the efficacy and safety of complementary therapies in cancer care.
• Confluences of spirituality and cancer patient care: An exploration.
• Disseminating difficult news: Navigating communication for oncology nurses.
• The trajectory of survivorship care: Pivoting from diagnosis to long-term monitoring.
• Initiatives for cancer prevention and education in marginalized communities: A rallying call.
• Articulating the science of symptom management: Oncology nurses as patient champions.
• The synergy of resilience in confronting challenges within oncology nursing.
• Addressing the emotional toll in oncology nursing: Burnout and the self-care narrative.
• Patient agency and decision-making in oncology: A precarious equilibrium.
• Infusing cultural humility within the matrix of oncology nursing practice.

Oncology nursing, a dynamic realm, melds profound medical insights with emotional acumen for the welfare of cancer patients. By immersing into the matrix of PICOT questions, project concepts, and research topics unveiled above, aspiring nursing scholars step onto a path brimming with the potential to impact this indispensable facet of healthcare profoundly. Remember that seeking supplementary support, such as our professional writing services , can catalyze growth as your nursing journey advances. If you need aid with crafting assignments, research papers, or capstone projects connected to oncology nursing, don’t hesitate to explore the resources tailored for your benefit. Your dedication to learning and amplifying the influence of oncology nursing stands as a testament to your unwavering commitment to evidence-based and compassionate patient care.

FAQs About Oncology Nursing for Nursing Students

Q: What are the objectives of oncology nursing students?

A: Oncology nursing students aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of cancer care, including disease processes, treatment modalities, patient communication, and supportive care, to provide holistic and evidence-based care to cancer patients.

Q: What are the competencies of oncology nursing?

A: Competencies in oncology nursing encompass proficient knowledge of cancer types, treatment options, symptom management, emotional support, patient advocacy, and effective communication with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams .

Q: What is a career objective for a nursing student?

A: A career objective for a nursing student might be to secure a position in a healthcare institution, where I can apply my nursing skills, compassion, and dedication to provide high-quality patient care and contribute to positive health outcomes.

Q: What are three goals as a nursing student?

A: Three goals as a nursing student could include achieving academic excellence, actively participating in clinical experiences to enhance practical skills, and cultivating effective communication and teamwork abilities for collaborative patient care.

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120 Oncology Nursing Topics and Nursing Research Paper Examples

James colson dnp, rn.

• May 15, 2024
• Nursing Topics and Ideas

Oncology nursing is a compassionate and vital field dedicated to caring for patients with cancer. These nurses play an integral role in providing physical and emotional support to individuals facing one of the most challenging journeys of their lives. 

This article presents Oncology Nursing Topics and Nursing Research Paper Examples on Oncology Nursing. We also cover PICOT questions examples, evidence-based practice (EBP) project ideas, research paper topics, research questions and essay topics ideas of oncology nursing.

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PICOT Questions Examples on Oncology Nursing

• In cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (P), how does the use of ginger supplementation (I) compared to standard antiemetic medications (C) affect the frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting (O) during the first cycle of chemotherapy (T)?
• In adult cancer patients with central venous catheters (P), what is the effect of implementing a nurse-led central line care bundle (I) compared to routine care (C) on the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (O) within three months (T)?
• In pediatric patients receiving radiation therapy (P), what is the impact of play therapy (I) compared to standard care (C) on anxiety levels (O) during radiation treatment sessions (T)?
• In cancer survivors (P), how does participation in a nurse-led survivorship care program (I) compared to usual care (C) influence the long-term quality of life and symptom management (O) over five years (T)?
• In patients with advanced cancer (P), what is the effect of early palliative care consultations (I) compared to standard oncology care (C) on overall survival (O) and quality of life (O) during the course of the disease (T)?
• In breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy (P), what is the impact of preoperative education and counseling (I) compared to standard care (C) on postoperative pain management and psychological well-being (O) within the first week after surgery (T)?
• In cancer patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (P), how does acupuncture (I) compared to physical therapy (C) affect pain relief (O) and functional improvement (O) over a two-month period (T)?
• In elderly cancer patients receiving home-based care (P), what is the effect of a nurse-led medication management program (I) compared to self-administration (C) on medication adherence (O) and treatment-related complications (O) over six months (T)?
• In cancer patients receiving immunotherapy (P), what is the impact of a symptom-monitoring mobile app (I) compared to traditional symptom management (C) on early detection and management of immune-related adverse events (O) within the first month of treatment (T)?
• In cancer patients with treatment-induced fatigue (P), how does exercise therapy (I) compared to rest (C) affect fatigue levels (O) and overall physical functioning (O) over a three-month period (T)?

Evidence Based Practice Project Ideas on Oncology Nursing

• Developing a nurse-led educational program for cancer patients regarding the prevention and management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
• Implementing a central line care bundle in an oncology unit to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of art therapy in improving the emotional well-being of pediatric cancer patients during their hospital stays.
• Creating a survivorship care program for cancer survivors, addressing their long-term physical, psychological, and informational needs.
• Establishing an early palliative care consultation program for advanced cancer patients to enhance quality of life and symptom management.
• Designing a preoperative education and counseling program for breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy to improve postoperative pain management and psychological resilience.
• Investigating the benefits of acupuncture therapy for cancer patients experiencing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
• Developing a medication management program for elderly cancer patients receiving home-based care to ensure safe and effective treatment.
• Creating a symptom-monitoring mobile app for cancer patients on immunotherapy to facilitate early detection and management of adverse events.
• Implementing an exercise therapy program for cancer patients with treatment-induced fatigue to enhance their physical functioning and overall well-being.
• Assessing the impact of a nurse-led smoking cessation program on smoking cessation rates among cancer patients.
• Developing a culturally sensitive end-of-life care program for diverse cancer patient populations.
• Investigating the benefits of music therapy in reducing anxiety and pain perception among pediatric cancer patients during invasive procedures.
• Creating a telehealth support group for cancer caregivers to address their emotional and informational needs.
• Establishing a nutrition education program for cancer patients undergoing treatment to address dietary challenges and promote overall health.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a nurse-led fertility preservation counseling program for young cancer patients.
• Developing a personalized survivorship care plan for breast cancer survivors to address their unique medical and psychosocial needs.
• Investigating the impact of nurse-led genetic counseling for cancer patients at risk of hereditary cancers.
• Implementing a distress screening program in oncology clinics to identify and address the psychological and emotional needs of cancer patients.
• Creating a nurse-led pain management program for cancer patients, focusing on multimodal approaches and personalized care plans.

You can also check out  Evidence Based Practice Project Ideas on Diabetes Management

Nursing Capstone Project Ideas on Oncology Nursing

•  Designing and implementing a comprehensive psychosocial support program for cancer patients and their families to address emotional well-being throughout the cancer journey.
• Developing a nurse-led transitional care model for cancer survivors to facilitate a smooth transition from active treatment to survivorship.
• Assessing the impact of a nurse-led palliative care program on patient and family satisfaction in an oncology ward.
• Creating a nurse-led medication management protocol for patients receiving oral chemotherapy to improve adherence and symptom management.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of a nurse-led chemotherapy education program on patients’ understanding of treatment, side effects, and self-care.
• Implementing a telehealth support platform for cancer patients in rural areas to provide access to nursing care and support.
• Designing a nurse-led pain management intervention for cancer patients with chronic pain, emphasizing non-pharmacological approaches.
• Investigating the benefits of a nurse-led mindfulness and meditation program for cancer patients to reduce stress and improve coping mechanisms.
• Developing a nurse-led program for addressing body image and self-esteem issues in cancer survivors.
• Creating a nurse-led initiative to improve communication between healthcare providers and cancer patients to enhance patient-centered care.
• Assessing the impact of a nurse-led end-of-life care program on the quality of life and symptom management of terminally ill cancer patients.
• Investigating the effectiveness of a nurse-led exercise and physical activity program for cancer survivors to improve overall health and well-being.
• Developing a nurse-led program to enhance cultural competence in oncology nursing, promoting culturally sensitive care.
• Implementing a nurse-led symptom management hotline for cancer patients to provide immediate guidance and support.
• Designing and evaluating the outcomes of a nurse-led education program on cancer prevention and early detection in underserved communities.
• Creating a nurse-led support group for cancer caregivers to address their unique needs and challenges.
• Investigating the benefits of a nurse-led fertility preservation counseling program for young cancer patients of reproductive age.
• Developing a nurse-led program for managing treatment-related skin toxicities in cancer patients.
• Assessing the impact of a nurse-led survivorship care planning program on the long-term quality of life and well-being of cancer survivors.
• Creating a nurse-led program to support cancer patients in making informed decisions about clinical trials and experimental treatments.

Nursing Research Paper Topics on Oncology Nursing

• Exploring the Impact of Ginger Supplementation on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A Systematic Review.
• Reducing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Oncology Patients: A Comparative Analysis of Central Line Care Bundles.
• The Role of Play Therapy in Alleviating Radiation-Induced Anxiety in Pediatric Cancer Patients.
• Survivorship Care Programs for Cancer Survivors: A Review of Efficacy and Long-Term Outcomes.
• Early Palliative Care Consultations in Advanced Cancer: Impact on Quality of Life and Survival.
• The Effectiveness of Preoperative Education and Counseling in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Mastectomy.
• Acupuncture as a Complementary Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Comprehensive Review.
• Medication Management Programs for Elderly Cancer Patients Receiving Home-Based Care: A Critical Analysis.
• The Use of Symptom-Monitoring Mobile Apps in Immunotherapy: Early Detection of Immune-Related Adverse Events.
• Exercise Therapy for Cancer Patients with Treatment-Induced Fatigue: A Systematic Review.
• Nurse-Led Smoking Cessation Programs for Cancer Patients: A Review of Effectiveness.
• Culturally Sensitive End-of-Life Care for Diverse Cancer Patient Populations: A Critical Evaluation.
• The Therapeutic Benefits of Music Therapy in Pediatric Oncology: A Comprehensive Review.
• Telehealth Support Groups for Cancer Caregivers: Impact on Emotional Well-Being and Coping.
• Nutrition Education Programs for Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment: Addressing Dietary Challenges and Promoting Wellness.
• Fertility Preservation Counseling for Young Cancer Patients: A Comparative Analysis of Nursing Interventions.
• Genetic Counseling in Oncology Nursing: The Role of Nurses in Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment.
• Distress Screening in Oncology Clinics: Identifying and Addressing Psychological and Emotional Needs.
• Nurse-Led Pain Management Programs for Cancer Patients: A Multimodal Approach.
• Enhancing Communication between Healthcare Providers and Cancer Patients: The Role of Oncology Nurses in Patient-Centered Care.

You cna also check out Nursing Research Paper Topics on Community Health Nursing

Nursing Research Questions on Oncology Nursing

• What is the current evidence regarding the efficacy of ginger supplementation in reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients?
• How do central line care bundles compare to standard care in reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections in oncology patients, and what are the key components of effective bundles?
• What are the psychological and emotional outcomes of pediatric cancer patients receiving play therapy during radiation treatment, and how does it impact their coping mechanisms?
• How do survivorship care programs influence the long-term quality of life and well-being of cancer survivors, and what components are essential for their success?
• What are the effects of early palliative care consultations on the quality of life and survival of advanced cancer patients, and how can these consultations be integrated into oncology practice?
• What is the impact of preoperative education and counseling on postoperative pain management and psychological resilience in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy?
• How effective is acupuncture therapy in alleviating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and what are the mechanisms underlying its potential benefits?
• What are the outcomes of medication management programs for elderly cancer patients receiving home-based care, and how do these programs enhance safety and effectiveness?
• How does the use of symptom-monitoring mobile apps affect the early detection and management of immune-related adverse events in cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy, and what patient factors influence app utilization?
• What is the impact of exercise therapy on the fatigue levels and overall physical functioning of cancer patients undergoing treatment, and what types of exercise interventions are most effective?
• What are the outcomes of nurse-led smoking cessation programs for cancer patients, and how can nurses tailor interventions to address the unique needs of this population?
• How can oncology nurses provide culturally sensitive end-of-life care to diverse cancer patient populations, and what cultural competence training strategies are most effective?
• What are the therapeutic benefits of music therapy in pediatric oncology, and how can music therapy interventions be customized to meet the needs of individual patients?
• How do telehealth support groups for cancer caregivers impact their emotional well-being and coping strategies, and what are the key elements of successful virtual support groups?
• What are the effects of nutrition education programs on the dietary choices and overall wellness of cancer patients undergoing treatment, and how can nurses promote nutrition education in clinical settings?
• What are the outcomes of fertility preservation counseling programs for young cancer patients, and how can nurses effectively provide counseling and support in this context?
• How do nurse-led genetic counseling interventions impact cancer risk assessment and decision-making among at-risk individuals and families?
• What is the prevalence of distress among cancer patients in oncology clinics, and how can nurses facilitate the identification and management of distress through screening programs?
• How can nurse-led pain management programs for cancer patients incorporate multimodal approaches to enhance pain relief while minimizing side effects and opioid use?
• How can oncology nurses contribute to improved communication between healthcare providers and cancer patients, and what strategies can be implemented to enhance patient-centered care in oncology practice?

Nursing Essay Topic Ideas on Oncology Nursing

• The Journey of Compassion: Exploring the Role of Oncology Nurses in Cancer Care.
• Ginger Supplementation in Chemotherapy: A Natural Approach to Nausea and Vomiting.
• Central Line Care Bundles: A Nursing Solution to Preventing Infections in Oncology Patients.
• The Healing Power of Play: Play Therapy for Pediatric Cancer Patients.
• Surviving and Thriving: The Importance of Survivorship Care Programs for Cancer Survivors.
• Palliative Care: Enhancing Quality of Life for Advanced Cancer Patients.
• Preoperative Education and Counseling: Empowering Breast Cancer Patients.
• Acupuncture as Complementary Therapy: Alleviating Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy.
• Elderly Cancer Patients at Home: The Role of Medication Management Programs.
• Mobile Apps and Immunotherapy: A Lifeline for Cancer Patients.
• Fighting Fatigue: Exercise Therapy for Cancer Patients.
• Nurse-Led Smoking Cessation Programs: A Breath of Fresh Air for Cancer Patients.
• Cultural Competence in Oncology Nursing: Caring for Diverse Patients.
• Harmonizing Healing: Music Therapy in Pediatric Oncology.
• Telehealth Support Groups for Cancer Caregivers: Connecting and Coping.
• Nutrition Education for Cancer Patients: Nourishing the Body and Mind.
• Preserving Hope: Fertility Preservation Counseling for Young Cancer Patients.
• Unveiling Genetic Counseling: Empowering Patients in Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment.
• Distress in Oncology Clinics: Identifying and Addressing the Unseen Struggles.
• Balancing Pain Relief and Opioid Safety: Nurse-Led Pain Management in Oncology.
• The Art of Communication: Enhancing Patient-Centered Care in Oncology Practice.
• The Multifaceted Role of Oncology Nurses: Advocates, Educators, and Healers.
• Art and Healing: Exploring the Therapeutic Benefits of Art Therapy in Cancer Care.
• Supporting Cancer Caregivers: The Unseen Heroes of the Cancer Journey.
• Chemotherapy Education: Empowering Patients with Knowledge and Confidence.
• The Mind-Body Connection: Mindfulness and Meditation in Cancer Care.
• The Comfort of Home: Home-Based Care for Cancer Patients.
• Clinical Trials and Experimental Treatments: Informed Decision-Making with Nursing Guidance.
• Empowering Survivorship: The Role of Nurse-Led Survivorship Care Planning.
• Ethical Dilemmas in Oncology Nursing: Navigating Complex Decisions with Compassion.

You can also check out Nursing Essay Topic Ideas on Geriatric Nursing

Oncology nursing is a field that demands empathy, resilience, and expertise as nurses provide essential care to cancer patients and their families. The capstone project ideas on oncology nursing, PICOT questions examples, evidence-based practice project ideas, research paper topics, and research questions in this article are a source of inspiration and guidance for nursing students and professionals dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer.

1. What are the requirements for oncology course?

Candidates need to have completed 10+2 years of education from a recognized board, with 50% aggregate in 12th grade. The main subjects in 12th grade must include Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The scores in the main entrance exams for UG admissions.

2. Is Oncology a good course?

Oncology can be a good career choice for those interested in the medical field and dedicated to helping patients with cancer.

3. What is oncology nursing?

An Oncology Nurse works with patients who have, or who are at risk of getting, cancer. 

4. What are the challenges of oncology nursing?

This Series paper provides a narrative review of oncology nursing workforce challenges, including nursing staff shortages, a scarcity of specialised training, occupational safety concerns (including the effect of COVID-19), and burnout, and discusses possible solutions to address these challenges.

5. What are the goals of an oncology nurse?

They develop care plans for each patient, and recognize cancer-related issues; they help coordinate care with other medical professionals. They are also concerned about the psychological effects of cancer; they help families focus on positive outcomes, while guiding their expectations.

• “Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice” Connie Henke Yarbro, Debra Wujcik, and Barbara Holmes Gobel: 2018
• “Oncology Nursing Review”Connie Henke Yarbro, Debra Wujcik, and Barbara Holmes Gobel: 2018
• “The Art and Science of Palliative Nursing” Betty R. Ferrell and Nessa Coyle: 2018
• “Advanced Practice Palliative Nursing”Constance Dahlin, Patrick Coyne, and Betty Ferrell: 2016

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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

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Nursing care services to address unmet supportive care needs among cancer survivors: a systematic review

Affiliations.

• 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA.
• 2 College of Nursing, Chungnam National University, 266 Munhwa-Ro, Jung-Gu, Daejeon, 35015, Republic of Korea. [email protected].
• 3 Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• 4 Clinical Research Center, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
• 5 College of Nursing, Graduate School of Chungnam National University, 266 Munhwa-Ro, Jung-Gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
• PMID: 39240428
• DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01661-9

Background: The increasing population of cancer survivors poses a significant challenge for healthcare systems globally, necessitating comprehensive post-treatment care to address diverse physical, psychological, and social needs.

Objective: This systematic review aims to synthesize and critically evaluate the current evidence concerning the unmet needs for nursing services among cancer survivors, spanning various dimensions of survivorship care.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across major databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, to identify relevant studies investigating the unmet needs and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) of nursing services led by nurses among cancer survivors. The final search update was conducted in June 2024. Unmet needs dimensions were categorized by the biopsychosocial-spiritual framework.

Results: Of the 9503 records searched, 18 studies were included. This review revealed mixed findings in the domains of unmet needs and interventions aimed at addressing them. While nurse-led interventions showed promise in addressing physical and daily living needs, outcomes related to psychological and emotional needs varied across studies. Additionally, nurse-led interventions were effective in addressing patient-clinician communication and health system/information needs, although statistical significance was not consistently observed. HRQOL assessments using general and cancer-specific measures yielded mixed findings.

Conclusions: Despite limitations of the risk of bias of included studies and weak study designs for evaluating nurse-led intervention effects for cancer survivors, the findings highlight the potential of nursing practice to significantly contribute to improving unmet needs of physical, psychological, and social perspectives and ultimately improving their HRQOL. However, the impact on the spiritual needs of nursing care services is limited by the low number of studies.

Implications for cancer survivors: By providing comprehensive support and management, nursing practice can enhance post-treatment outcomes and HRQOL for cancer survivors, contributing to more patient-centered and effective care delivery. More rigorous research considering a biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective to help cancer survivors improve HRQOL is needed.

Keywords: Biopsychosocial-spiritual framework; Cancer survivor; Health-related quality of life; Nursing service; Systematic review; Unmet needs.

© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

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The university of tulsa Online Blog

Trending topics in the tu online community

Nursing Research: What It Is and Why It Matters

When people think about medical research, they often think about cutting-edge surgical procedures and revolutionary new medications. As important as those advancements are, another type of research is just as vital: nursing research.

This type of research informs and improves nursing practice. In many cases, it’s focused on improving patient care. Experienced nurses who have advanced nursing degrees and training in research design typically conduct this research.

Nurse research can explore any number of topics, from symptomology to patient diet. However, no matter the focus of a research project, nurse research can improve health care in an impressive number of ways. As experts in their field, nurse researchers can pursue a wide range of unique career advancement opportunities .

Why Nursing Research Matters: Examples of Research in Action

Research drives innovation in every industry. Given that nurses are on the front line of the health care industry, the research they do can be particularly impactful for patient outcomes. 

It Can Improve Patients’ Quality of Life

Patients diagnosed with life-threatening chronic diseases often undergo intense treatments with sometimes debilitating side effects. Nursing research is vital to helping such patients maintain a high quality of life.

For example, a 2018 study led by a nurse scientist explored why cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy frequently experience severe nausea. While the physical toll of chemotherapy contributes to nausea, the study found that patients who have factors such as children to take care of, high psychological stress, and trouble performing day-to-day tasks are often much more likely to experience nausea.

By identifying the root causes of nausea and which patients are more likely to experience it, this research allows health care professionals to develop evidence-based care practices . This can include prescribing anti-nausea medications and connecting patients to mental health professionals.

It’s Central to Making Health Care More Equitabl

A Gallup survey reports that about 38% of Americans put off seeking medical treatment due to costs. Unfortunately, cost is only one factor that prevents people from seeking treatment. Many Americans don’t live close to medical providers that can meet their needs, aren’t educated about health, or encounter discrimination.

As complex as this issue is, the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) asserts that the country’s nurse researchers can lead the charge in tackling it. In its strategic plan for 2022 to 2026, the institute highlights the following:

• Nursing has long been one of the most trusted professions in the country.
• Nurses often interact with patients, patients’ families, and communities more frequently than other health care professionals.
• The care that nurses provide must often take environmental and social factors into account.

These traits put nurses in the position to not only research health inequity but also put their research to work in their organizations. To help make that happen, NINR often funds nurse-led research projects focused on equity and social determinants of health. With that kind of backing, the field may become more transformative than ever.

It Can Strengthen the Health Care Workforce

While nursing research can be used to improve patient care, it can also be leveraged to solve issues health care professionals face daily. Research about the state of the health care workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect illustration.

In 2022, a team of nurse researchers published a report called Nursing Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities for Our Profession After COVID-19 in the International Journal of Nursing Practice . In it, the authors provided concrete statistics about the following:

• Mental and physical health issues many nurses encountered
• Effects of increased workloads and decreased nurse-to-patient ratios
• How many nurses were planning to leave the profession altogether

As nurses themselves, the authors also offer actionable, evidence-based solutions to these issues, such as streamlining patient documentation systems and implementing employee wellness programs.

However, this type of research isn’t just important to solving workforce issues stemming from specific emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. By publishing quantifiable data about the challenges they face, nurse researchers empower other nurses and professional nursing organizations to advocate for themselves. This can help employers enact effective policies, support their nursing staff, and draw more talented people into the profession.

Career Opportunities in Nursing Research

Nurse researchers can work in any number of administrative, direct care, and academic roles. However, because nurse research often requires clinical care and data analysis skills, jobs in this field typically require an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).

While many more nurse research career opportunities exist, here are four career paths nurses with research experience and advanced degrees can explore.

Nurse Researcher

Nurse researchers identify issues related to nursing practice, collect data about them, and conduct research projects designed to inform practice and policy. While they often work in academic medical centers and universities, they can work for any type of health care provider as well as health care advocacy agencies.

In addition to conducting research, these professionals typically provide direct patient care. Many also write papers for peer-reviewed journals and make presentations about their work at conferences.

Clinical Research Nurse

Despite having a similar title to nurse researchers, clinical research nurses have slightly different responsibilities. These professionals are usually in charge of providing care to patients participating in medical research projects, including clinical trials and nursing research initiatives. They also typically collect data about patient progress, coordinate care between different team members, and contribute to academic papers.

Occupational Health Nurse

Also referred to as environmental health nurses, occupational health nurses serve specific communities, such as professionals in a particular industry or people who live in a particular area. They often educate their communities about relevant health risks, advocate for stronger health and safety regulations, and run wellness programs.

To carry out their duties, occupational and environmental health nurses must typically research health trends about the people they serve, including living and working conditions that put them at risk for illness or injury. They can work for private companies and government agencies.

Nurse Educator

Nurse educators prepare new nurses to enter the workforce or train experienced nurses in more advanced techniques. This can include teaching classes and providing on-the-job training. They often work for colleges, universities, and large health care providers.

While their duties don’t always include research, nurse educators must keep up with the health care industry’s needs and new patient care practices. This is so they can provide relevant education themselves and help their organizations design up-to-date curricula.

Make Nursing Research a Part of Your Journey

Conducting and implementing nurse research is a collaborative effort. It takes a team of informed leaders, skilled analysts, and creative educators to create effective, evidence-based policies. Those interested in pursuing nurse research should consider The University of Tulsa’s online MSN program , which can prepare you to fill any one of those roles and more.

All of TU’s MSN students take classes on research and evidence-based practices. However, the program’s specialty tracks allow students to take their studies in multiple research-oriented directions. For instance, if you’re interested in collecting and interpreting clinical data, you can choose the Informatics and Analysis track. If you have a passion for public health policy, the Public Health and Global Vision track includes classes on population health and epidemiology.

Delivered in a flexible online format, this program can be a great option for working nurses and nontraditional students alike. To find out more, read about TU’s admission policies and request more information today.

Recommended Readings

A Nurse Educator’s Role in the Future of Nursing

How Global Health Nursing Supports Population Health

What Can You Do With an MSN?

Gallup, “Record High in U.S. Put Off Medical Care Due to Cost in 2022”

International Journal of Nursing Practice, “Nursing Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities for Our Profession After COVID‐19”

Journal of Pain Symptom Management , “Risk Factors Associated With Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea in the Week Prior to the Next Cycle and Impact of Nausea on Quality of Life Outcomes”

Mayo Clinic, Nursing

National Institute of Nursing Research, Scientific Strategy: NINR’s Research Framework

National Institute of Nursing Research, The National Institute of Nursing Research 2022-2026 Strategic Plan

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Oncology Nurse Researcher

What the Next Generation of Nurse Researchers Learned From the ONS Precision Symptom Science Workshop

Precision symptom science helps clinicians identify specific individuals at risk for symptoms and develop targeted strategies to prevent or mitigate the severity of the symptoms. In March 2024, I was one of eight PhD-prepared nurse scientists selected to participate in a workshop hosted by ONS and supported by the Oncology Nursing Foundation to develop the next generation of precision symptom scientists. 

Oncology Nurses Drive Discovery in Cancer Clinical Research

In 2023, more than 15 novel drugs were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for oncology indications. They all underwent rigorous testing via a series of clinical trials to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness. As a nurse, you’re familiar with clinical research and may have even cared for patients on clinical trials. But do you know that you could build a career in clinical research?

The Power of Peer Review

If you’ve read an awe-inspiring professional nursing or healthcare article, textbook chapter, or book that hit the mark on quality, accuracy, and readability and found yourself opining, “How did the author do that ? I could never write something that great”—stop that thinking!

Current AI Studies in Oncology Nursing Lack Evidence of Ethics and Efficacy

Published evidence suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have promising potential for oncology nursing, but evidence gaps remain regarding ethical considerations and efficacy in clinical practice, researchers reported in Cancer Nursing . 

NIH Awards Nearly $5 Million for Research Grants to Advance Precision Medicine

The National Institutes of Health, through its All of Us Research Program, announced in January 2023 research funding opportunities to expand the use of the program’s data to advance precision medicine. NIH allocated up to $4.75 million in fiscal year 2023 for the research grants.

NINR Promotes Nursing Research to Achieve Health Equity

To address and achieve equity in health care , in fall 2022 the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) began offering new  funding opportunities for research studies aligned with the scientific framework outlined in the institute’s 2022–2026 strategic plan . The grants are available cyclically with three application periods per year.

Diverse Nursing Research Tackles Current Medical Challenges and Looks Toward Future

The National Institute of Nursing Research, an National Institutes of Health agency, released its 2022–2026 strategic plan in summer 2022 to support its mission of leading “nursing research to solve pressing health challenges and inform practice and policy—optimizing health and advancing health equity into the future.”

Healthcare Organizations Advocate for Clinical Trial Diversity in Letter to Congress

Healthcare organizations advocated to improve diversity among clinical trials in a letter sent to U.S. Congress in May encouraging the government to take steps as the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) approaches . The PDUFA allows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to review and approve drugs, but the authorization is set to expire in September of 2022.

NCI Hosts Virtual Roundtable Discussion on Expanding Clinical Trial Accrual

Driven by the reignited Cancer Moonshot, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) hosted a virtual roundtable discussion on the possibilities and challenges of increasing clinical trial accrual in May 2022.  

NCI Proposes Budget for Fiscal Year 2023

Driving “cancer research that spans the continuum from basic science to survivorship” and taking advantage of the “incredible opportunity to greatly reduce the impact of cancer on people’s lives and end cancer as we know it” takes an investment, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) acknowledged in its proposed budget for the 2023 fiscal year. However, fully funding “cutting-edge research, infrastructure, and training needed to harness these opportunities allows researchers better understand how to prevent and treat cancer.”

NCI Recognizes Three ONS Members as Champions and Changemakers

Where there’s cancer, there are oncology nurses. It’s been that way even before 1971, when President Richard Nixon established and signed into law the National Cancer Act to fight the “war on cancer,” which had just become the second leading cause of death in the United States. Born from the act, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2021. As part of the celebration, it named three oncology nurses and ONS members on its champions and changemakers list— Betty Ferrell , PhD, FAAN, FPCN, CHPN, Deborah Watkins Bruner , RN, PhD, FAAN, and Christine Miaskowski , RN, PhD, FAAN—in recognition of their contributions to cancer prevention, early detection, and symptom science.

Nurse Researcher AIMS to Increase Screening for Malnutrition and Reduce Bowel Dysfunction

Research has identified an association between malnutrition and functional deficits in patients with cancer, regardless of age, and other studies confirm that malnutrition affects treatment tolerability, outcomes, and quality of life for patients with cancer. However, studies have also found that oncology clinicians do not consistently assess for malnutrition and functional deficits in clinical settings. 

NCI Uses Federal Funds to Increase Grant Paylines for Emerging Nurse Researchers

When the U.S. Congress passed the FY 2021 funding bill at the end of 2020, it recommitted its dedication to cancer research by increasing the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) budget by $120 million.

Nurse Scientists Guide the Evidence in Symptom Science, and Inaugural Colloquium Recognizes That Impact on a National Level

Oncology nurses hold a unique position in improving symptom management and health outcomes in people with cancer, and their contributions to the body of symptom science are critical. In support of that work, ONS embarked on a landmark partnership with the National Institute of Nursing Research and National Cancer Institute's Center for Cancer Research to present the inaugural Colloquium on Symptom Science Advances in Oncology Nursing on February 4–5, 2021.

NCI Gives a Midpoint Progress Update on the Cancer Moonshot

During his final State of the Union address in January 2016, former President Barack Obama appointed Joe Biden the lead on a new initiative: the National Cancer Moonshot. The goal was to find treatments, cures, and more understanding about cancer—a decade’s worth of progress in just five years. 

We Know Oncology Nurse Navigators Improve Patient Experience, but Measurement Is Difficult

In February 2019, my colleagues and I published a retrospective analysis of patient-reported satisfaction comparing those who had contact with an oncology nurse navigator (ONN) and those who did not. We analyzed surveys from patients with outpatient oncology infusion or radiation oncology visits in a 24-month period. First, we sorted the surveys into two groups—self-reported ONN contact (n = 315) and self-reported no contact with an ONN (n = 172)—and compared satisfaction.

NINR Asks Nurses for Meaning of Research

What does the future of nursing research mean to you? How can nurse scientist-led studies provide information you can use in your daily practice? What gaps do you see in evidence to support nursing care?

Nurses Are Central to Lung Cancer Screening Conversations

Participation in clinician and patient conversations about lung cancer screening—as well as the actual screening itself—is relatively low. According to one study, only 3.9% of screening- eligible patients had undergone lung cancer screening. Because the screening recommendations are newer, most patients are unaware that they exist, and research highlights that only 10%–12% of the patient population has had conversations with their clinicians about it.

Nurses Must Understand Health Disparities to Provide Effective Patient Education

Issues pertaining to geography, socioeconomic status, or racial or ethnic background can prohibit patients from accessing the treatment and care they need to successfully navigate their cancer diagnosis. Connecting patients to healthcare professionals and tailored interventions that educate, motivate, and reduce barriers can be a tremendous boon for their care and ultimately their outcomes.

Nurses Need Resources, Data to Support Patients Transitioning to Survivorship

Since the National Academies of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) issued Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition in 2005, the oncology field has made small strides to implement successful survivorship resources to support patients after their treatment. Because of the vast differences in patient populations, disease types, study locations, and institutional resources, best practices to support patients transitioning from treatment to survivorship care are often unclear. This poses an issue for providers, and patients hear mixed messaging or little information for follow-up care. With many patients receiving treatment in outpatient settings, ambulatory oncology nurses must understand how to provide support for patients during their transition.

Ruth McCorkle Leaves Legacy of Innovation, Advancement in Oncology Nursing

ONS member Ruth McCorkle, PhD, RN, FAPOS, FAAN, had a storied, trailblazing career in oncology nursing, leading the way to advance nursing research, patient-centered care, and educational excellence. McCorkle passed away on August 17, 2019, surrounded by her close family, leaving behind an indelible legacy to the oncology nursing profession.        

Telehealth Programs Improve Symptom Management at Home

Beta Data Browser Puts Precision Medicine Cohort at Researchers’ Fingertips

The future of cancer care is here: precision medicine has led to many of today’s newest cancer treatments and has made incredible progress since former President Barak Obama first announced the U.S. Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) in 2015.

Nurses Are Crucial to Developing Tools, Best Practices for Novel Therapies

Advanced practice RNs (APRNs), especially those with Doctorate of Nursing Practice degrees, in clinics across the country must not only focus on managing care for patients on novel therapies like immunotherapy but must also look at toxicities and adverse events from a population perspective. APRNs should look across all patients and disease types receiving the same novel treatments and recognize toxicity patterns to determine best practices for patient management. 

Cancer Moonshot Moves to Research Phase

Still a popular program throughout the government, the Cancer Moonshot Initiative challenged the United States to meet goals to accelerate cancer research progress , encourage collaboration in finding treatments and cures, and to improve data sharing to make a decade’s progress in half the time. Through NIH’s Moonshot Blue Ribbon Panel and the 2016 passage of the 21st Century Cures Act—allocating $1.8 billion over seven years for Moonshot—the initiative is moving out of planning and into the research phase.

NIH Seeks Research Proposals Through HEAL Initiative Funding

Recognizing the national opioid epidemic in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has allocated a new funding stream for new research to address public health issues like prescription drug abuse and overdose. Through the Helping to End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Initiative, the NIH is offering 30 funding opportunities for researchers, awarding $850 million in support.

Oncology Nurses Are Vital to Tobacco Control and Smoking Cessation Efforts Worldwide

 The World Health Organization indicated that tobacco use is the most preventable cause of cancer worldwide. Globally, more than 7 million people die each year from causes associated with tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. Despite recent trends that show falling rates for U.S.-based smokers, much work still must be done. Oncology nurses around the world can make a difference by engaging in prevention and treatment tactics, working with policymakers, and educating their communities and patients about tobacco control. 

Research Shows That Telephone Triage Is a Vital Part of Patient Experience

The field of telehealth encompasses many efforts in oncology practice and research. When focusing specifically on telephone triage, we examine patient-initiated requests, such as speaking directly with their nurses on the phone, reporting side effects, or seeking answers to questions about plan of care and treatment. This provides oncology nurses with an opportunity for assessment and intervention. Although many current research efforts focus on proactive phone calls nurses make to their patients, it is also important to understand the impact of incoming calls on patient care and workflow.

Emory University Appoints Oncology Nurse as Senior Vice President of Research

Building on a long career as a pioneer in oncology nursing research and cancer clinical trials, ONS member Deborah Watkins Bruner, RN, PhD, FAAN, has been named the senior vice president of research at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, a newly created position that serves on the Emory president’s leadership team. Effective October 1, 2018, Bruner’s leadership, expertise, and research experience will guide Emory’s interprofessional research efforts and promote education and training for future researchers, including nurse scientists.

What the Research Says About Supporting Cancer Survivors in Non-Oncology Settings

In 2016, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that the number of currently living cancer survivors is estimated at 15.5 million Americans. For 2018, ACS is projecting another 1.7 million new cases of cancer diagnoses. On one hand, the growing number of survivors indicates that early diagnosis, new technologies, targeted interventions, treatment options, and access to care are making a huge difference for patients. 

Longstanding NINR Director Retires After Two Decades of Developing Nursing Science

Patricia Grady, RN, PhD, FAAN, has defined a generation of nurse science and patient-centered research, serving as the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) director for more than 23 years. Under her charge, NINR has grown into one of the foremost federal agencies supporting the scope of the nursing research community, driving groundbreaking initiatives and furthering clinical practice.

NINR Study Identifies Genes for Fatigue in Cancer Treatment

Radiation therapy can be an incredibly draining form of treatment for patients with cancer. Side effects such as fatigue can be debilitating for many before, during, and after treatment. Because symptom management is a crucial component to cancer care and central role of oncology nursing, ensuring that patients are able to mitigate their symptoms and side effects can help improve their quality of life. Recently, a team at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) identified certain genes associated with fatigue in men being treated for prostate cancer.

Meneses Left Legacy of Contributions to Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life

Long-time ONS member and oncology nurse scientist Karen Meneses, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the School of Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) passed away unexpectedly on August 1, 2018.

Consider a Role in Clinical Trials Research as an Evolution of Your Nursing Career

Nurses can do it all. After all, the often-unsung heroes of health care use their unique skills to positively impact patients and their families in more ways than most people can ever imagine. Unfortunately, role confusion and a lack of awareness of a vital specialty have led to a dire need of nurses in clinical trials.

Nurses Are Advancing Research in Data-Powered Science

Nurses can foster data-powered health through getting involved in research and ensuring that data collection is in patients’ best interest and accessible to all. Patricia Brennan, PhD, RN, director of the National Library of Medicine, and Suzanne Bakken, PhD, RN, FAAN, a professor at Columbia University, discussed how data can empower health and what nurses can do to advance research during a session at the 43rd Annual Congress in Washington, DC.

ONS Scholar-in-Residence Will Drive Nursing Research, Highlight Scientists

Whether being called on to inform the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative, develop novel resources for patients with prostate cancer, or create programs for smoking cessation, nurse scientists are continually advancing patient-centered oncology care. Nurse researcher contributions have led to improved patient outcomes, better symptom management interventions, and overall quality of care. As part of its commitment to future nursing research, ONS created a new scholar-in-residence position to drive and inform the Society’s research agenda and highlight the integral work of ONS member nurse scientists who are moving the needle for patients with cancer.

Motivational Interviewing Nursing Interventions Help Reduce Chemotherapy Symptom Burden

Nursing interventions such as coaching, telephone follow-up, and home care have been reported with inconsistent results. In their article in the January 2018 issue of the Oncology Nursing Forum, Coolbrandt et al. discussed the evaluation of a nursing intervention focused on patient education and self-management to reduce symptom distress in outpatients with cancer.

Oncology Nurses Champion Tobacco Cessation Programs

Twenty-five years ago, you could be flying at 39,000 feet and still be inhaling cigarette smoke. Smoking’s pervasiveness in U.S. culture was far and wide, and it wasn’t until cancer research findings—coupled with public policy and healthcare education—that the dangers of smoking caught on with the general public. Since then, smoking rates have declined.

Governors Push Senators for 2018 ACA Funding; NCI Requests Input on Bioethics in Cancer Research; Congress Braces for Full September Agenda

Summer 2017 saw several attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), none of which were successful. Now that the dust has started to settle—and Congress is slowly moving on to other issues—many are still dealing with the uncertainty left in the wake of the nation’s healthcare debate. This includes many concerned governors who are lobbying for funds to address their states’ current needs.

How NCI Is Training the Future Cancer Research Workforce

To ensure that future cancer research is of the highest quality, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is committed to developing the best scientific minds. NCI training and funding opportunities cover a broad spectrum of disciplines for individuals at various stages in their careers, ranging from high school and graduate students to scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals. 

How One Institution Improved Accrual to Cancer Clinical Trials

One of the key factors to a cancer clinical trial’s success is the ability to enroll an adequate number of patients in an appropriate timeframe. Identifying barriers to slow accrual and ways to address them can help researchers and nurse scientists make big steps in the fight against cancer in the era of the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative.

Navigating Medical Marijuana Laws and Use in Treatment

Medical marijuana laws still vary across the United States, and barriers persist for patients and providers, including fear of addiction and side effects as well as safety, financial, and legal concerns. Carey Clark, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, of the University of Maine at Augusta, Jacquelyn Bainbridge, PharmD, FCCP, from the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Lisa Kennedy Sheldon, PhD, APRN-BC, AOCNP ® , FAAN, chief clinical officer at the Oncology Nursing Society, discussed the latest in medical marijuana laws and usage during a session at the 42nd Annual Congress in Denver, CO.

NINR Sets Strategic Plan for Nursing Research

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Shu-Fen Wung, 2 Engineering researchers, awarded TRIF grant

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The University of Arizona College of Nursing’s Shu-Fen Wung, PhD, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN , a professor and director of Nursing-Engineering Initiatives, received a $120,000 Technology and Research Initiative Fund grant for her Personalized Intelligent Care for Older Adults with Infections project.

Wung is one of three principal investigators for the project. The others are from the College of Engineering: professor Janet Roveda, PhD , who has a joint appointment with the College of Nursing, and associate professor Jian Liu, PhD .

“Our research team is very excited and grateful to receive this TRIF grant,” said Wung. “Our proposed project aligns with the three focus areas of the TRIF, including the Internet of Things, data sciences, and artificial intelligence and machine learning. This grant will further my area of research and meet the College of Nursing’s strategic priority to create a center of health and technology to integrate nursing knowledge with engineering principles to design innovative solutions that enhance patient care, safety, overall health care outcomes and health equity.”

The project will develop a smart, multimodal sensing architecture together with deep learning models capable of modeling individualized health surveillance needs, Wung said. The sensors will adjust appropriate surveillance strategies and provide timely information to assist in the early recognition of infection and care decisions for vulnerable older adults in long-term care facilities.

“ One of my goals when I joined the University of Arizona was to bring together the fields of nursing and engineering to find ways to enhance patient care,” said Brian Ahn, PhD , dean of the College of Nursing. “Dr. Wung and her co-PIs at Engineering will be the first step on this journey, finding real-world solutions to help our most at-risk populations, including older adults. We look forward to their great work.”

Nurses often encounter practical challenges in patient care and are in a unique position to identify areas needing innovation, Wung said. Because of this, the college’s aim to be a center of health and technology will require creating interdisciplinary teams that can integrate nursing care and research with engineering principles.

“By working together with our partners in the College of Engineering and community partner, Via Elegante Assisted Living & Memory Care, we can develop advanced technologies with analytics to revolutionize health care by enabling nurses and care team to be more innovative, which will improve patient outcomes and health care delivery,” Wung said. 

Roveda added, “The College of Nursing, under Dean Ahn and Professor Wung’s leadership, is spearheading personalized care for aging populations.”

Terry Badger, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC , a professor, the Eleanor Bauwens endowed chair at the College of Nursing and the interim associate dean for research, said, “Dr. Shu-Fen Wung’s groundbreaking project unites the unique expertise of nursing and engineering to address critical health care challenges.”

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• v.27(1); Winter 2017

Future ready: Strengthening oncology nursing leadership in the context of professional oncology nursing organizations

Introduction.

Every nurse is a leader. Rather than being situated only within a traditional leadership role or title, nursing leadership is about critical thinking, action and advocacy across all roles, practice settings and domains of nursing practice. When high-quality nursing leadership is enacted, positive patient, provider and system outcomes are demonstrated ( Cummings et al., 2010 ; National Expert Commission, 2012 ; Wong, Cummings & Ducharme, 2013 ). Leadership begins in undergraduate education and continues throughout one’s career. Nursing leadership in this context is about looking beyond nursing, as a series of scientific acts of caring that can change individual lives, to include lifelong commitment to political action for system change. It requires nurses to lift their gaze from focusing only on individuals to populations, and from the local to global context ( Canadian Nurses Association, 2009 ; Institute of Medicine, 2011 ; International Council of Nurses, 2016 ; National Expert Commission, 2012 ).

More than ever, the need for nursing leadership in the cancer care environment is paramount. Across Australia and Canada, we share similar challenges. Against a backdrop of increasing number and complexity of cancer patient and family needs, oncology nursing is facing critical challenges to optimally address these needs. Some of the most pervasive challenges include (i) the impact of efficiency discourses and disease-focused models on limiting nursing roles and opportunities to practise to full scope; (ii) lack of clarity on how the full complement of nursing roles (i.e., LPN/RPN/enrolled nurses, generalist, specialist, advanced practice) may synergistically work together to optimize cancer patient and family outcomes; (iii) nurses’ disproportionate access to specialty education and certification opportunities across each country; and (iv) fewer resources to demonstrate the impact of oncology nursing on patient, family and system outcomes through research. There are fewer formal nursing leadership positions, and more reports of moral distress and burnout among all oncology nursing roles ( Canadian Nurses Association, 2009 ; International Council of Nurses, 2016 ; National Expert Commission, 2012 ; Wong, Cummings & Ducharme, 2013 ).

Professional oncology nursing organizations such as the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO/ACIO) and Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA) have an important role to play in addressing these challenges. As the national voice for oncology nursing within each of our countries, CANO/ ACIO and CNSA must advocate for equitably high-quality cancer care, including articulating oncology nurses’ unique role and demonstrating impact for cancer patients and their families and within the cancer care system. As member-based organizations, it is imperative that CANO/ACIO and CNSA foster leadership capacity among their members. A high-functioning elected Board of Directors (BOD), (known as the National Executive Committee [NEC] within the CNSA), and various other committees that provide effective leadership to the organization and its members also is essential.

Both CANO/ACIO and CNSA have had a long history of excellent nursing leadership within their respective BODs and committees. Historically, senior nursing leaders have willingly and actively stepped up to be nominated and have moved these professional organizations forward. However, the changing landscape requires that we proactively build capacity in the next generation of leaders, to be active advocates for high-quality nursing services within complex and changing environments, as well as to provide leadership in formal roles within our professional organizations. In this editorial, we offer some reflections and strategies for leadership-building within our respective professional oncology nursing organizations, so that the current workforce and next generation of oncology nurses are prepared to lead change to improve the health of people at risk for/living with cancer.

BUILDING GENERATIONS OF PROFESIONAL LEADERS

CANO/ACIO’s current strategic plan includes strategies to build capacity for nursing leadership among its members, BOD, and committees. As a foundation, CANO/ACIO has recently articulated a Nursing Leadership position statement, believing that: a) all oncology nurses are leaders, b) oncology nursing leadership is essential to promote high-quality, equitable, safe and accessible cancer care and to meet health care challenges of the future and c) cancer care organizations, academic institutions, provincial and national professional nursing associations and individual practitioners/ leaders play a fundamental role in supporting oncology nurses to develop leadership capacities ( Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology, 2016 ). This position statement sets the bar for individuals, educational, professional and health care organizations regarding leadership development of oncology nurses in Canada. The recent formalized collaboration between the CANO/ ACIO and CNSA through a Memorandum of Understanding will enable us to explore resource sharing and joint projects in leadership capacity building.

To support oncology nurses in their leadership development, both organizations are working to identify and increase access to educational resources and workshops pertaining to leadership. Formal succession planning processes are also under consideration for BOD/NEC, local chapter/regional group, and special interest group (SIG)/specialist practice network (SPN) leaders. Our members have the opportunity to join the leadership of SIGs/SPNs to network with others and become key opinion leaders whom the BOD/NEC relies on to inform policy influence and other advocacy strategies. Oncology nurses within both organizations interested in developing their research-related leadership skills may join the research committee. A significant gap in both organizations’ current strategic plans persists in relation to engaging undergraduate students or early career members, providing mentorship to the next generation of oncology nurses and in identifying “rising stars” who hold potential to take on formal leadership roles. A focus on engagement of undergraduate students and early career nurses should be considered for future strategic plans of both organizations.

A challenge still remains as to how to encourage oncology nurses to believe they have the capacity to take on formal leadership roles within CANO/ACIO and CNSA BODs. Often, it is through informal mentorship and encouragement to put one’s name forward for nomination. Below is an outline of the experiences we had, as we were considering whether to be nominated for the president role within our respective organizations.

TT: I was encouraged by a past CANO/ACIO president and long-time mentor (Esther Green) and my current mentor/ supervisor (Dr. Sally Thorne) to put my name forward for nomination for president. At first I had every reason NOT to do it—I don’t have the skills, the BOD needs a different kind of leader, isn’t there someone else more qualified than me?, I’m too busy, I should finish my PhD first, and so on…. But my mentors were persistent and gave me every reason why I SHOULD put my name forward—because it was my turn to step up and contribute in this way, that it’s a privilege to participate in such an important national organization, you have an opportunity to have a voice in impacting high-quality cancer care, and that leadership skills are rapidly honed by leading within a group of supportive, collaborative leaders! I quickly realized that the reciprocal benefit for me being involved in the CANO/ACIO BOD was by far going to outstrip everything that I put into it. I have gained additional amazing mentors, nationally and internationally, and my own leadership skills continue to develop. Most importantly, I have the satisfaction of contributing to improving cancer care through investing in the future of oncology nursing in Canada. RC: During the CNSA Winter Congress 2013, Professor Mei Krishnasamy (CNSA Past President) and Sandy McKiernan (Incumbent President) encouraged me to be nominated for the president role as they saw the leadership within me that I had not realized. I was flattered and shocked at the same time. Although I had the experience of serving on several CNSA committees, I was feeling very inadequate in comparison with numerous past CNSA leaders with extensive experience as a director. I subsequently checked with my mentor Professor Patsy Yates (CNSA Inaugural Chair), who knew me well, whether I really had what it takes to lead a national organization. Prof Yates’s encouragement further assured me that I would have the support I required in this role. All these three leaders instilled such courage in me. If it were not for the encouragement of these three nurse leaders, I would not have considered running for presidency and now have the privilege to serve cancer nursing in this national leadership role. I am determined to pay it forward and be a leader who instils courage and confidence to future oncology nurse leaders.

We must include strategies that not only build leadership skills, but also offer mentorship to continue to build confidence and capacity in the next generation of oncology nurses to step forward into formal leadership roles within our organizations.

THE ROLE FOR STRONG GOVERNANCE

It is critical that BODs of nursing professional organizations continue to focus on good governance, which forms the foundation for effective strategies for the organizations to ful-fil its missions. A view once commonly held was that governance of not-for-profit (NFP) organizations was generally poor compared with the for-profit sector, but there is now evidence that this is not the case. The recent Australian Institute of Company Directors’ NFP Governance and Performance Study reported that 80% of NFP directors surveyed (n=1,195) believed that the quality of governance had improved compared with three years previously 8 . The calibre and experience of non-executive directors of NFP organizations has also increased; over 75% with more than four years of experience as a director, and over 40% (n=1,259) with more than 10 years of experience ( Australian Institute of Company Directors, 2016 ).

To strengthen and guide the governance of the CANO/ ACIO BOD to achieve its mission, a new governance manual was recently developed, benchmarking NFP industry standards that offer a code of conduct, board structure, performance evaluation strategies and other related policies. This governance manual continues to evolve, with the revision of policies (e.g., on/off boarding, conflict of interest) to more accurately reflect the current context of a volunteer board with full-time additional professional nursing roles.

For our organizations to further enhance our impact, we must prepare future leaders with an understanding of high-quality governance. For the reason of succession planning, training opportunities on governance should not be limited to board members, but also those who are serving on or leading various committees. Governance structures of both organizations should also be regularly reviewed to ensure they optimally align with their mission, vision and goals.

THE ROLE OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP

Mentors and leaders in nursing academia are often under-utilized in moving forward the leadership agenda within practice-based professional organizations. In Australia and Canada, we are fortunate to have many outstanding oncology nurse academics who are contributing to the science of oncology nursing, as well as educating the next generation of oncology nurses. While there are many examples of practice-research/education collaborations within our two countries, there is much room and opportunity for growth.

We have been working for almost two decades to narrow the practice-research gap. However, some wonder if we have “overshot” and unknowingly widened this gap by creating distance between clinicians and researchers. Walley and colleagues (2007) suggest we may need to revisit putting practice back into evidence—generating evidence that is embedded in practice. Oncology nursing professional organizations can play an important role in purposefully bringing together academics, researchers, clinicians and educators to work more closely together to advance oncology nursing practice, promote nurses’ opportunities to practise to their full scope, create systems of care that optimally align oncology nurses with patient needs and demonstrating impacts on patient/family, care provider and system outcomes. Evidence generated in practice can then be used to influence policy affecting patients and families affected by cancer.

Closer collaborations between academics and researchers may further build bridges to opportunities for developing a future oncology nursing workforce and influencing high quality nursing care. Although most undergraduate nursing programs produce generalist nurses, there may be strategies to begin to influence academic programs to integrate oncology curricula, given the high prevalence of cancer in both countries. Graduate programs could be influenced to develop specialty training for advanced practice roles and/or oncology nurse researchers. Mentorship programs between researchers and/or clinicians and students could offer a solid strategy to build capacity and passion for oncology nursing practice and research.

THE ROLE FOR INFLUENCING POLICY

Engagement with policymakers (e.g., ministers of health, research funding bodies, national cancer control organizations, health services boards) is also a critical nursing leadership strategy to influence the health of people at risk for/living with cancer. Professional oncology nursing organizations must aim to influence policy through advocacy strategies and positioning key oncology nursing leaders on boards, decision-making groups and key leadership positions. It is also important to look beyond cancer and health silos, to include influence across social, economic, and environmental domains. The cancer care system can only be transformed to achieve high-quality care for all, when we influence policy to consider the social determinants of health at the individual and population levels.

OUR ROLE IN THE GLOBAL ARENA

As oncology nurses and global citizens of high-income countries, we have a moral imperative to use our leadership capacity — individually and collectively — within our professional nursing organizations to positively impact oncology nursing practice in the global arena. In particular, the growing cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), combined with nursing workforce issues such as narrowed scope of practice and limited cancer education limits opportunities for nurses to play a significant role in improving cancer patient, family and system outcomes ( Galassi, 2015 ). Professional nursing organizations such as CANO/ACIO and CNSA may, where invited, join forces to offer capacity building, provide specialty oncology education and ongoing mentorship for advocacy and policy influence within LMICs. To be future ready for this global leadership challenge, CANO/ACIO has developed a framework for professional oncology nursing organizations to guide engagement in the international area.

In this editorial, we have offered our perspectives on the importance of strong governance, nursing scholarship, influencing policy and participation in the global arena in the context of our professional organizations. Both the CANO/ACIO and CNSA are committed to ensure that we will continue to build future generations of oncology nurse leaders. Every nurse is a leader. We invite you to ponder your role in contributing to professional leadership through your professional organizations.

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