IN THIS ISSUE:• Happening Today• CEO Welcome Message • Navigating ONS Congress • Keynote Speaker Spotlight • Year of the Nurse • ONS Voice Encore Article: Telehealth Improves Patient Access and Outcomes• Oncology Nursing Foundation 40th Anniversary • Virtual Yoga Sessions • ONS Voice Encore Article: Screening Recommendations Key to Cancer Prevention

April 20, 2021congress.ons.org • #ONSCongress

DAY ONEONS CONGRESS™ NEWS

BE THESPARK

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Learn everything you need to know, including how to navigate the platform and earn your NCPD, by watching the ONS Congress 101.

Sponsored by

It’s time to kick off Day 1 of the ONS Walking Challenge! Participate in some friendly competition with your peers as you work your way up the leaderboard and try to exceed the challenge step goals to win prizes! Not signed up yet? Join in on the fun. Winners will be announced in the daily attendee email on April 29.

Sponsored by

8:30–10 am

Discover the latest innovations during Industry Supported Symposia

10–11 am

Kick off ONS Congress with the opening keynote session: Oncology Nursing: Catalyzing Hope and Care

11–11:30 am

Enjoy your morning coffee and virtually visit with ONS Congress gold and platinum exhibitors in the Learning Hall

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Education Breakout SessionsCan’t-Miss Sessions:

• Pharmacokinetic (PK) Directed Dosing

• Radiation: Who, What, Where, When, and Why?

12:45–1:45 pm

Education Breakout SessionsCan’t-Miss Sessions:

• The Victoria Mock New Investigator Award Lecture

• Pharmacology Update

1:45–4:15 pm

Connect With Exhibitors and Attend Industry-Supported Learning Theaters

2–3 pm

Chakra Balancing Yoga Flow Supported by the Oncology Nursing Foundation and Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, Nashville

Here are some of the exciting things happening today at ONS Congress! View the complete schedule here.

HAPPENING TODAY

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3:45–4:45 pm

Education Breakout SessionsCan’t-Miss Sessions:

• Mara Mogensen Flaherty Lectureship: Collective Care: Holding Burnout, Grief, and Joy Through the Arts

Supported by the Oncology Nursing Foundation and Sarah Cannon, The Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare

• Customizing Nursing Care for At-Risk Family Members in Cancer Caregiving

4:45–5 pm

Take a quick break and watch the ONS Corporate Council Resource Video: Bristol Myers Squibb

5–6:30 pm

Discover the latest innovations during Industry Supported Symposia

ONS Congress is pet friendly! Check out your fellow attendee’s pet photos featured in the on-demand library. Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo of their furry friend!

Sponsored by

TUNE IN TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, FOR THE STATE OF THE

SOCIETY: ONS BUSINESS MEETING FROM 6 TO 9 PM

HAPPENING TODAY

Schedule current as of April 14, 2021. *All times listed are in eastern standard time.

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A message from ONS CEO, Brenda Nevidjon, MSN, RN, FAAN

WELCOME TO THE 46TH ANNUAL ONS CONGRESS

Last September, I greeted attendees at the inaugural ONS Bridge™ conference with a welcome that said we were making ONS history by holding our first virtual conference—and now we are doing it again with this year’s virtual ONS Congress! A year later, we are still fighting a global pandemic that has halted in-person conferences.

The 2021 ONS Congress Planning Team approached planning this event as virtual first but was prepared to pivot to an in-person meeting if the pandemic and Washington, DC, permitted it. Although we had to keep the virtual approach, as always, ONS Congress brings you expert presenters on topics important to your practice.

Using specific tracks to organize content, the schedule combines live sessions and prerecorded ones with live Q&A. You can visit the learning hall, which we have enhanced and improved from our experience at the first ONS Bridge virtual conference. You can view up to 294 posters, participate in industry-supported symposia, and network with colleagues.

Just like ONS Bridge, you can access the sessions and resources beyond the designated four days in April. What we heard from ONS Bridge attendees is that a benefit of the virtual conference was the ability to later attend sessions that were scheduled concurrently. In person, they could only have chosen one, but with this feature, attendees can earn more NCPD than they might have gained in person.

Congratulations to our planning team for their hard work and ability to be prepared for either virtual or in-person. You will see them on screen, and here are their names:

• Susan Yackzan, PhD, MSN, AOCN®, APRN, Content Planning Team Chair• Marci Andrejko, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, Advanced Practice track• Anne Kolenic, DNP, APRN, AOCNS®, Advanced Practice track• Nancy Corbitt, BSN, RN, OCN®, Clinical Practice track • Colleen McCracken, BSN, RN, CMSRN, CHPN, OCN®, Clinical Practice track• Danya Garner, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, OCN®, CCRN-K, Leadership/Management/Education track• Jeanette Pretorius, BSN, MBA, RN-BC, NE-BC, OCN®, Leadership/Management/Education track• Trey Woods, MSN, RN, NP-C, Radiation track • Marilyn Hammer, PhD, DC, RN, FAAN, Research track• Nonniekaye Shelburne, MS, CRNP, AOCN®, Research track

Thank you for attending ONS Congress. Please provide feedback on your experience so we know what you value as we go forward and design other virtual events.

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Make the Most of This Unique Virtual Experience

NAVIGATING ONS CONGRESS

Although we are not able to meet in person for ONS Congress this year, we can still connect when we need it most. Navigating a virtual conference is still new for many of us and it may not seem like the same hustle and bustle of an in-person experience, but we hope that you’ll find that it provides the same content and offerings that you’ve come to expect from ONS.

Here are five tips on how you can make the most of a virtual ONS Congress.

Be in the moment. Try to dedicate your time and attention to each session. Although it may be tempting to multitask, we encourage you to block off time for the specific sessions that you want to attend. You can also limit your distractions by silencing your phone and email notifications to get the most out of ONS Congress.

Be prepared. Make sure to check out the technical requirements detailed in our help center prior to the start of your first session. Visit the ONS Congress platform and select the live sessions you want to attend. You can even register for live sessions in advance and add them to your calendar to send you a reminder. Try to be online before your session begins, as audience members may arrive 15 minutes before the designated start time. If you are joining a live session later than its start time, you will be entered into the session as time elapses, just like if it were an in-person session. If you miss some content you wanted to see, the session will be posted in the on-demand library about 48 hours after the original run time.

Network virtually. Meet fellow oncology nurses and expert speakers by interacting in the chat box and Q&A during live sessions. The virtual ONS Congress will also offer new networking opportunities, including discussion boards, an event-wide chat room, and one-on-one chat with fellow attendees. Be sure to also check out ONS’s social media platforms and use the hashtag #ONSCongress to connect with other attendees online.

Visit the learning hall. Interact and engage with industry leaders, chat in real time with exhibiting company representatives, and download resources to take back to your practice in the virtual learning hall. Be sure to attend sponsored product theater and symposia sessions as well. Check the ONS Congress schedule to view these additions and make your plans to attend—some sessions require a separate registration.

Earn your nursing continuing professional development (NCPD). You can continue learning and exploring ONS Congress even after the live event dates have concluded. The on-demand library will be accessible until May 27, and will include all sessions featured during the conference, oral abstract presentations, posters, sponsored symposia and product theaters, and the virtual learning hall. Attendees can earn up to 160 NCPD contact hours by viewing all live and on-demand sessions (including all oral abstract presentations and posters). NCPD evaluations will be due by May 27, 2021.

FOR MORE ONS CONGRESS TIPS AND TRICKS VIEW THE ONS CONGRESS 101 PRESENTATION.

Get Inspired at the ONS Congress Opening Keynote Session

Join us to kick off the 46th Annual ONS Congress and hear keynote speaker Theresa Brown, PhD, BSN, FAAN, discuss the importance of the oncology nurse’s role to patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Attend this session to be reminded of your value as a provider of hope and care, and to feel inspired about the challenges to come.

Theresa Brown is a clinical nurse and the author of the New York Times bestseller The Shift: One Nurse, Twelve Hours, Four Patients’ Lives. As a nurse advocate, Theresa is a frequent contributor to The New York Times. Her writing has also appeared on CNN.com and in The American Journal of Nursing, JAMA, and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Theresa is a Missouri native who currently lives and works in Pittsburgh, PA.

Opening Keynote: Oncology Nursing: Catalyzing Hope and CareTuesday, April 20 • 10–11 am

CATALYZING HOPE AND CARE

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To recognize the dedication of those at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2021 the International Year of Health and Care Workers.

This follows the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in 2020, a celebration initially inspired by the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth but made even more relevant by the outbreak of COVID-19 and pandemic declaration in early 2020.

The courage and resilience of nurses and other health and care workers has been tested in the face of a global healthcare crisis throughout 2020 and 2021. While the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) will align with the WHO and other health organizations in celebrating the International Year of Health and Care Workers, we are extending our celebration of the Year of the Nurse.

We thank you, oncology nurses, for remaining a pillar of strength and inspiration for patients with cancer. Your fearless commitment, endless compassion, and spirit for innovation is why we will never stop celebrating you.

CELEBRATE WITH US!

• Read stories from nurses about their experience with caring for

patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Join us in celebrating Oncology Nursing Month in May.

Order Oncology Nursing Month gifts for your colleagues.

• Follow @oncologynursing on Facebook and Twitter for more

Year of the Nurse content.

Honoring the Commitment and Strength of Nurses Everywhere

EXTENDING THE CELEBRATION

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Thrust into the mainstream in 2020, telehealth has transformed how patients with cancer receive some of their care, substituting certain traditional in-person office or clinic visits for phone, video, and apps and devices that monitor patients’ health. It’s improved access to care in areas previously considered at risk for disparities: for example, patients in remote locations can be managed in an acute-care setting using television monitors, cameras, and call buttons to contact specialists (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2020).

Telehealth expanded over the past decade with the proliferation of smartphones and apps, but the concept has been followed for more than two centuries (Iafolla, 2016; see timeline chart at blog.evisit.com/virtual-care-blog/history-telemedicine-infographic). And it’s not slowing down anytime soon: in late 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services made the additional telehealth coverage it introduced as temporary pandemic measures a permanent part of the Physician Fee Schedule.

It Improves Access and OutcomesIn 2016 and 2019, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ([AHRQ], 2020) completed two systematic reviews of the evidence for general telehealth as well as its use in acute and chronic conditions; in 2020, it released a white paper that extrapolated the findings to telehealth’s current expansion:

• In specific uses and patient populations (e.g., remote, home monitoring and communication for patients with chronic conditions; providing psychotherapy as part of behavioral health), clinical outcomes with telehealth are as good as or better than usual care and telehealth improves intermediate patient outcomes and satisfaction.• Remote intensive care units report lower, statistically significant mortality rates and small, nonsignificant reductions in length of stay.• Emergency telehealth consultations improve triage by decreasing the time to decisions about transport and treatment and ultimately receipt of care.

It Still Has Challenges to OvercomeEven though telehealth can remove physical barriers to care, access can still be a challenge if patients lack the technology tools and know-how to engage in virtual appointments and treatment. Patients may not own computers or mobile devices, have insufficient data or internet service, or simply be fearful of technology. Some institutions are employing innovative strategies to mitigate those barriers (Ikram et al., 2020):

• Delivering tablets and mobile hot spots to patients in need• Conducting practice appointments one to two days before the actual appointment• Deploying the tablet delivery drivers, medical assistants, or healthcare ambassadors to log patients in (sometimes even completing the intake) and connect them with the remote care team

It Requires Telehealth Competencies and a ‘Webside’ MannerTraining is essential for providers who practice telehealth. The American Medical Association (Aas, 2017) identified three critical competencies:

• Virtual data capture• Patient safety• Patient education

What Oncology Nurses Need to Know About Telehealth

TELEHEALTH IMPROVES PATIENT ACCESS AND OUTCOMES

Tune Into Leveraging Digital Health as an APRN

Part 1 and 2 on Thursday, April 22.

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Other considerations for telehealth are that a practitioner’s ability to read body language or other subtle signals that necessitate further inquiry or an in-person visit. Visits should be shifted to in-person if providers have any concerns about patient safety or challenges with patients reporting or accessing the system (Aas, 2017).

When conducting a video visit, position yourself in a well-lit area with your face at the center of the screen and as few background distractions as possible. Putting yourself at the focus of the camera makes patients feel that they are the focus and facilitates trust. Don’t hesitate to ask the patient to move or reposition as needed to make sure you are able to conduct a thorough assessment (Smith, 2020).

Providers also need to think about their webside manner and use the same empathy and understanding they employ at the bedside, chairside, and exam room on the video screen (Smith, 2020). If patients don’t use video chat often, give them a bit more time to feel comfortable; practitioners can use that time to assess nonverbal cues.

Nurses Can Use It in Cancer CareAs the first point of contact when patients need to report a problem, nurses can use telehealth triage technology to supplement or replace aspects of the patient interaction (Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA], 2020). Patients can use web- or app-based tools to take vital signs or record symptoms either manually or automatically, which triggers an alert to healthcare providers and becomes part of the medical record. These technologies are especially useful with home care, long-term residential care facilities, and homeless shelters (HRSA, 2020).

Telehealth triage continues when patients arrive at the healthcare institution through kiosks or video interactions that help prioritize and manage cases and reduce wait times. HRSA (2020) has a guide for telehealth triage, and more telehealth resources can be found at the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers.

Other applications of telehealth in oncology include providing chemotherapy education, genetic counseling, telepathology, certain elements of clinical trials, and survivorship care. Cancer care teams can even use it to connect with each other outside of direct patient interactions, conducting tumor boards and other collaborative meetings virtually from any location (Sirintrapun & Lopez, 2018).

Aas, E. (2017). Prepare providers for telemedicine: 3 critical training areas. Managed Healthcare Executive. https://www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/view/prepare-providers-telemedicine-3-critical-training-areasCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2020). Trump administration finalizes permanent expansion of Medicare telehealth services and improved payment for time doctors spend with patients. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-finalizes-permanent-expansion-medicare-telehealth-services-and-improved-payment Gelburd, R. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic and the transformation of telehealth. US News & World Report. https://www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2020-06-02/covid-19-and-the-transformation-of-telehealthHealth Resources and Services Association. (2020). Telehealth for emergency departments. https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/telehealth-for-emergency-departments/tele-triageIafolla, T. (2016). History of telemedicine infographic. https://blog.evisit.com/virtual-care-blog/history-telemedicine-infographicIkram, U., Gallani, S., Figueroa, J.F., et al. (2020). 4 strategies to make telehealth work for elderly patients. https://hbr.org/2020/11/4-strategies-to-make-telehealth-work-for-elderly-patients Sirintrapun, S.J., & Lopez, A.M. (2018). Telemedicine in cancer care. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book, 38, 540–545. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_200141Smith, T.M. (2020). To succeed with telehealth, know your “webside manner.” https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/succeed-telehealth-know-your-webside-mannerU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2020). Welcome to VA telehealth services. https://telehealth.va.gov

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A VISION OF INSPIRATION AND IMPACT 2021 is a special year for the Oncology Nursing Foundation as we commemorate our 40th year as a pillar for oncology nurses. We invite you to join the Foundation in celebrating this important milestone.

Visions of the Oncology Nursing Foundation emerged 40 years ago by Connie Henke Yarbro, MS, RN, FAAN, the Oncology Nursing Society’s (ONS’s) president at the time and one of ONS’s four founders. In her president’s message published in the Oncology Nursing Forum that summer, she wrote, “We must explore sources for, and perhaps participate in, funding for nursing education and research.”

At the time, Yarbro was serving her second term as ONS president and for the fledgling Society, everything was new and urgent.

“With so many crucial initiatives on the table already—from chemotherapy guidelines to certification and addressing the educational needs of our nurses—I was not sure how the ONS Board would respond to a proposal to create a foundation,” she said, adding that few, if any, specialty organizations had a foundation back then.

The Board surprised her with an extremely positive response, and, on November 27, 1981, the Oncology Nursing Foundation was formalized as vehicle to accept charitable donations to support oncology nurses. Yarbro was appointed the Foundation’s first chair and served in the role until 1986.

The first fundraising initiatives were conducted at the annual ONS Congress, a legacy that continues today. And those small steps made a tremendous impact.

“We appealed to every member to give $5 or $10—that every dollar would make a difference. While we started out small, our ambitions were always great,” Yarbro said.

Because of the foresight of our founders and the generosity of many champions like you, the Foundation has provided more than $29 million in funding for oncology nurses in its 40-year history. Imagine what we can do together over the next 40 years.

To celebrate the Oncology Nursing Foundation’s 40th anniversary, we invite you to establish a monthly contribution of $40 or more. Donors who make this commitment will join a special donor circle, the Compassionate Champions Club. Setting up a recurring donation is easy. Take a few minutes to learn about the many benefits of participating in the Compassionate Champions Club.

Visit onfgivesback.org to join the club!

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You are learning a lot of valuable information at ONS Congress, so take a breath and end each day of the conference with a relaxing, unique yoga session arranged by the Oncology Nursing Foundation. These daily sessions allow you to focus inward to be mindful and present in the days ahead and in future moments with your patients.

Registration is required. Classes will provide the opportunity for relaxation and have a unique daily focus such as sound healing and lymphatic face massage. All levels of practice are welcome!

Proceeds from these sessions support the Oncology Nursing Foundation’s mission of supporting cancer care excellence.

TUNE INTO THE 2021 MARA MOGENSEN FLAHERTY MEMORIAL LECTURE: COLLECTIVE CARE: HOLDING BURNOUT, GRIEF, AND JOY THROUGH THE ARTS 3:45–4:15 pm Presented by Tara Rynders, RN, MFA, BSN, her message is an immersive multimedia experience about the art and science of self-care through truth-telling, self-compassion, creative expression, and, ultimately, the freedom to celebrate pleasure.

Don’t miss her live question-and-answer session immediately following the lecture!

The 2021 Mara Mogensen Flaherty Memorial Lectureship is presented in part through the generosity of Sarah Cannon, The Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare.

Virtual Yoga Sessions, Presentations, and a Challenge to You

THE ONCOLOGY NURSING FOUNDATION AT ONS CONGRESS

JOIN THE CHALLENGE! This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Oncology Nursing Foundation. After making a generous gift to the Foundation in honor of this special anniversary, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) has set aside an additional $40,000 for a challenge to members of the oncology nursing community. If, together, we can raise $60,000 for oncology nurses by the end of the year, ONS will release the additional funds to the Foundation. Your donation will make a difference. Join the ONS challenge today with a gift to the Oncology Nursing Foundation.

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THE VALUE OF VIGILANCENew Screening Recommendations Are Vital for Cancer Prevention

Although society still hopes for that one big discovery to cure cancer, clinicians know that there’s already a tried and true method to give patients their best shot at survival: catching a diagnosis early or preventing one altogether.

According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 42% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the United States may be avoidable. And early detection through recommended screening can help patients get treatment before their cancer advances, when it’s most successful.

As new evidence continually mounts for risk factors that can lead to cancer diagnoses, screening recommendations change and evolve over time, and it’s hard for the lay public to keep up. Oncology nurses are vital to the screening process, connecting patients with the latest information so they can make informed decisions about individualized screening plans. Through patient education, survivorship follow-up, and ongoing professional development, oncology nurses can help their patients, family members, and even their own communities stay up to date with evolving screening recommendations in practice.

Nursing’s Role in Screening and PreventionTo many oncology nurses, educating patients about prevention and screening may feel too little, too late in the process. But informing patients about current and new screening guidelines is crucial to limiting cancer risks, especially for secondary diagnoses.

“Nurses are essential in prevention and health promotion. They are patient educators and advocates, so it’s a critically important role to make sure patients are aware of screening recommendations and what they need for their specific situation,” ONS member Erin Hartnett, DNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, program director for New York

University’s Oral Health Nursing Education and Practice in New York City and member of the New York City ONS Chapter, says. “By educating patients about new and evolving recommendations, nurses can promote informed decision making, allowing patients to have the information they need to decide whether they want to participate in cancer screening or which might be best for them. Most patients aren’t even aware of the screenings available and look to their healthcare professionals to help guide them.”

ONS member Aurelie Cormier, RN, MS, ANP-BC, nurse practitioner at W.E.L.L.N.E.S.S. Parenting in Needham, MA, and member of the Boston ONS Chapter, says that nurses must work with patients to understand their individual cancer risk and tailor education to screening recommendations based on their personal situation.

“Patients with no understanding of screening, prevention, or cancer risk factors need information that empowers them to help reduce their cancer risks or change poor lifestyle habits,” Cormier says. “But as nurses, our primary responsibility with screening recommendations is to review what risk factors a patient has based on their personal history, lifestyle, and family history. With that information, we can point out and review which strategies will be most helpful to them, decide whether they are at average risk or high risk for certain cancers, and outline what their screening recommendations should be.”

Best Practices for Screening StrategiesWith the vast availability of screening information online and in the news, patients are savvier than ever before. But not everyone has the same level of health literacy regarding when and for which cancers to screen, and that’s where nurses can intervene.

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“To help patients understand new screening recommendations in practice, I always ask them if they’ve had any screening to that point and what they know about the new screening guidelines,” Cormier says. “I’ve found that some patients are already aware and on board with the process—sometimes they know more than we do. In that case, I always reinforce their knowledge, encourage them to continue being proactive, and offer any ideas to help keep them healthy and avoid risk. For patients who don’t know what to do, I always look at their individual risks. I ask them about factors based on their medical or family history, and I try to understand their high-risk health habits. Before we part ways, I like to provide them with patient education materials like a brochure or printout that they can take home.”

As the evidence base grows and more is discovered about what influences the development of cancer, screening recommendations are updated to meet public health needs. Staying current on the latest trends in screening and prevention is daunting, but it’s a key component of successful patient-centered care.

“The most important thing nurses need to do is stay informed,” Hartnett says. “Nurses working in another specialty diagnosis may not be aware of new screening recommendations for other cancers. It’s really up to nurses to know where to find those screening resources and to be sure that they’re up to date to meet patient needs.”

Sharing New Screening RecommendationsCormier and Hartnett cite organizations like the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and National Comprehensive Cancer Network that provide regularly updated screening

guidelines for many disease types. But nurses can also stay up to date by reading peer-reviewed journals and enrolling in email subscription lists that share the latest screening recommendations. Remaining vigilant for new updates and communicating them with the cancer care team are crucial.

“At Massachusetts General Hospital, we had a nursing practices floor committee where we assigned different people to bring new practice information to the team. It was something we did once a month, and we would share some of the best practices based on current topics or issues that came up. Units can designate somebody on the floor to collect new screening information and share it with the team at the meeting,” Cormier says. “Clinical nurse specialists could also gather that information and put it up on the wall where nurses eat lunch, on the way to the restroom, or in other common areas that nurses frequent. You have to come up with all kinds of creative strategies to get that information out there.”Cormier also emphasizes the importance of reinforcing new screening recommendations with patients. Providing multiple touchpoints for screening education is vital.

“In the office, you can make posters or one-page patient education sheets outlining new cancer screening recommendations. I know if I hear something, I’m likely to forget it, and a lot of patients will better remember something that they see rather than something they hear,” Cormier says. “A lot of times when patients come in, they’re so nervous about what they’re there for that they only remember the first thing you say and nothing else. If they have something in writing, they’re more likely to remember it. Having a poster on the wall can be helpful, or a little brochure in the waiting room that they can take with them is invaluable.”

Screening Into SurvivorshipThe transition from active treatment to survivorship can ignite a new sense of anxiety for patients who are hypervigilant for recurrent or secondary diagnoses. Nurses must empower patients to make informed decisions and follow appropriate screening recommendations.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NURSES NEED TO DO IS STAY INFORMED.

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“If a patient isn’t referred to a specific survivorship program or given a written survivorship care plan, they’re left to their own devices to understand future screenings,” Harnett says. “It’s crucial to have care plans in place that include clear screening information and where to find updated screening guidelines. Nurses can explain and outline that content. Including screening recommendations in the care plan will take the guesswork out of the process for patients.”

“We are the holistic practitioners on the healthcare team,” Cormier adds. “As patients navigate survivorship, nurses can review what’s important to them in their lives, what their health habits are, and what strategies they can tune up to give themselves the best chance of living a longer, better life with lower cancer risks. Nurses can be health coaches and patient champions, and we can empower them to contribute to their own survival—now and in the future.”

Advocating for PreventionCormier and Hartnett say that screening is just one part of the prevention conversation. Reinforcing healthy habits and working to lower cancer risk also go a long way to reduce the possibility of future diagnoses.

“An estimated 30%–50% of all cancers are preventable, and many are caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, poor diet, no exercise, sun exposure, and drug and alcohol abuse,” Hartnett says. “But I also think the most important cancer prevention nurses can do is educate parents about getting the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for their 11- to 12-year-olds before they are exposed to HPV. It is our only anticancer vaccine and can prevent six types of cancer directly associated with HPV. Yet only 51% of our teens are

fully vaccinated against HPV. It is essential for nurses to promote awareness. The HPV vaccine can be lifesaving for patients.”

Cormier supports a team-based approach to screening and prevention. Coordination is key to ensure patients are connected to the information, resources, and professionals they need, she says.

“It takes a team to tackle a patient’s cancer treatment, and it must be a team that addresses screening and prevention. Nurses are experts at the science and heart of health care, and we see our patients in their wholeness,” Cormier says. “We must coordinate with nutrition colleagues, physical therapists, social workers, and other nursing professionals to give patients the resources they need. In that way, nurses can make a huge difference.”

Ultimately, as experts in cancer screening, prevention, and patient-centered care, nurses are one of the primary healthcare professionals responsible for ensuring that patients understand their risk for potential cancer diagnoses. Education and tailored support are critical for patients to adhere to evolving screening recommendations. As scientific evidence continues to grow, new screening guidelines will come to practice, and nurses must help their patients understand how to act on the information. The easiest cancer to cure is no cancer at all.

Reprinted from ONS Voice, February 4, 2020

IT TAKES A TEAM TO TACKLE A PATIENT’S

CANCER TREATMENT, AND IT MUST BE A TEAM THAT ADDRESSES SCREENING

AND PREVENTION.

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