Staff at the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at University of Kansas have collaborated with research and clinical care leaders in the survivorship field to educate oncology nurses around the country. "Cancer Survivorship Training for Health Care Professionals"TM is being developed to provide continuing education (CE) via online-courses addressing 12 survivorship nursing care content areas. Initial support was provided by Back in the Swing USA through the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at the University of Kansas Cancer Center. Staff and advisers include experts from the University of Kansas Breast Cancer Survivorship Center and Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Moffitt Cancer Center and City of Hope Cancer Center.
The curriculum is based on a national educational needs assessment conducted among oncology nurses and experience from model cancer survivorship centers. Oncology nurses around the country were asked how important is it for oncology nurses to develop skills to help patients manage survivorship issues. A resounding 83% responded "very important". Yet, only 13% considered themselves "very skilled" in this area of care.
Courses include:
- Physical Late and Long-term Effects of Cancer and Its Treatment
- Emotional Issues and Cancer
- Exercise and Energy Balance
- Economic Well-being, Employment and Cancer
- Complementary and Alternative Therapies
- Adherence: How Nurses Can Help
- Fatigue and Cognitive Difficulties
- Endocrine Symptoms and Sexual Health
- Fertility Preservation
- Genetic Issues for Cancer Patients and Family Members
- Screening for New or Recurrent Cancer and Cancer Prevention
- Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancers
The curriculum will be available in 2012 at: www.cancersurvivorshiptraining.com
For more information please contact:
Jennifer R. Klemp, Ph.D., MPH
Course Co-Director
University of Kansas Cancer Center
2330 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Westwood, Kansas 66205
Phone: (913) 588-3662
Fax: (913) 588-1455
E-mail: jklemp@kumc.edu