Oncology Nurses’ Identified Educational Needs for Providing Palliative Care

Abstract

Oncology nurses are primary providers of care to persons with cancer (PWC) and play a crucial role in providing palliative care (PC) to this population. However, little is known about the educational needs of oncology nurses when providing PC to PWC. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively investigate oncology nurses’ educational needs in providing the eight domains of PC listed in the National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care (NCP) guidelines to PWC. A nationally representative sample of oncology nurses who are members of the Oncology Nursing Society responded to two open-ended questions. Results showed the majority of the 303 respondents defined the term “PC” as primarily being symptom management. Oncology nurses ( n = 246) expressed educational needs in all eight domains of PC. These nurses need additional education in the provision of PC in order to deliver holistic, person-centered care to PWC.