Grenon Nina N, Waldrop Karen S, Pinheiro Natasha, Prosdocimo Brittni
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
Healthcare (Basel). 2024 Dec 5;12(23):2453. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12232453.
The role of the oncology nurse has evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic to continuously meet patient needs, resulting in an increased virtual presence. However, there is little information about whether these roles have continued since the pandemic and how it is affecting nurses.
The aim of this study, conducted via an electronic survey questionnaire, was to examine the perspective of oncology nurses in the United States of America regarding how their role has changed, the adaptation to telehealth, challenges, and needs.
Over 5 months, 197 respondents from 17 different states completed the survey. They were all registered nurses working in oncology with different roles, such as being nurse practitioners (23%), nurse navigators (20%), infusion nurses (23%), and working in outpatient settings (93%). The findings of the survey highlight the multifaceted responsibilities of nurses in providing care across the cancer care continuum, emphasizing patient-centered care, communication, education, and empowerment, in addition to expected duties such as the administration of anticancer therapy, monitoring of side effects, and symptom management. A total of 82.6% of United States of America oncology nurses feel their workload has increased. The role of nurses in oncology is continuously evolving and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in certain areas such as telehealth, is here to stay.
The results of the study allow a better understanding of the emergent roles of oncology nursing. The importance of self-care initiatives and education are emphasized as critical to support nurses in their complex, busy, and emotionally charged work environment and to help retain existing nurses and attract new individuals into the profession. The study ultimately seeks to inform policy and drive professional development in oncology nursing in the United States of America.
自新冠疫情以来，肿瘤护理人员的角色不断演变，以持续满足患者需求，这使得他们在虚拟护理方面的参与度有所增加。然而，关于疫情结束后这些角色是否继续存在以及它们如何影响护士，目前几乎没有相关信息。
本研究通过电子调查问卷进行，旨在考察美国肿瘤护理人员对其角色如何变化、对远程医疗的适应情况、面临的挑战及需求的看法。
在5个多月的时间里，来自17个不同州的197名受访者完成了调查。他们均为从事肿瘤护理工作的注册护士，担任不同角色，如执业护士（23%）、护理导航员（20%）、输液护士（23%），且93%在门诊工作。调查结果凸显了护士在癌症护理连续过程中提供护理的多方面职责，除了诸如抗癌治疗的给药、副作用监测和症状管理等预期职责外，还强调了以患者为中心的护理、沟通、教育和赋权。共有82.6%的美国肿瘤护理人员感到工作量有所增加。肿瘤护理人员的角色在不断演变，新冠疫情在远程医疗等某些领域的影响将持续存在。
该研究结果有助于更好地理解肿瘤护理的新兴角色。强调自我护理举措和教育的重要性，这对于在复杂、繁忙且充满情感压力的工作环境中支持护士以及帮助留住现有护士并吸引新人加入该行业至关重要。该研究最终旨在为美国肿瘤护理的政策制定提供参考并推动专业发展。
