Stay up to date on the latest oncology and nursing conferences.
Early Warning Scorecard Helps Identify Signs of Patient Deterioration in Oncology
April 24th 2015Using a color-coded, pocket-sized early warning scorecard has the potential to help nurses and other clinicians assess when cancer patients are deteriorating, and it's an intervention that could help avoid acute hospitalizations and even save lives, according to two clinical nurse specialists from Johns Hopkins who shared their experience with piloting an early warning tool.
Erica Fischer-Cartlidge Discusses Oral Mucositis Treatment for Patients Taking an mTOR Inhibitor
April 23rd 2015Erica Fischer-Cartlidge MSN, CNS, CBCN, AOCNS, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Outpatient Breast Medicine Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the difference between oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy and patients taking an mTOR inhibitor.
Alice Kerber on the Oncology Nurse's Role in Cancer Genetics
April 23rd 2015Alice S. Kerber, MN, APRN, ACNS-BC, AOCN, APNG, Oncology Nurse Specialist, Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education, explains how oncology nurses and genetic counselors will work together as the field of cancer genetics continues to grow.
Getting Some Sleep-an Unmet Need in Patients, Survivors, and Caregivers
April 23rd 2015Insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, and other sleep issues often affect quality of life in cancer patients, their caregivers, and survivors. Unfortunately, sleep complaints can often be overlooked by the medical staff or not mentioned by the patient.
Christopher Friese on the Importance of Using a Systematic Approach to Assess Toxicity
October 27th 2014Christopher R. Friese, PhD, RN, AOCN, FAAN, assistant professor, Division of System Leadership and Effectiveness Science, University of Michigan School of Nursing, discusses the benefits of using a systematic approach to assess toxicities of patients treated with chemotherapy.
Cost-Coping Is a Fact of Life for 9 in 10 Patients With Cancer
October 21st 2014Eighty-nine percent of patients with cancer reported making lifestyle modifications to cope with the high costs of cancer treatment, and more than one-third altered their medical care, according to the results of a new nationwide survey, underscoring the need for oncology practitioners to screen for and anticipate potentially harmful cost-coping behavior to alleviate patient distress and promote optimal care.
Early Palliative Care With "Co-Rounding" Model Improves Patient Outcomes
October 21st 2014A "co-rounding" model partnering medical oncologists with palliative care specialists was associated with improved outcomes at an inpatient oncology unit, according to a retrospective cohort analysis presented at a presscast ahead of the 2014 Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium.
Interactive Symptom Monitoring Helps Patients, Caregivers During Hospice Treatment
October 21st 2014A telephone-based symptom monitoring and coaching system not only alleviated hospice patients' symptoms during their final weeks of life, it also improved the well-being of family caregivers, according to a new study.
Archana Ajmera on Stomatitis Prevention During Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment
May 3rd 2014Archana Ajmera, RN, MSN, WHNP-BC, ANP-BC, nurse practitioner, University of California, San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses stomatitis prevention during everolimus/exemestane treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
Advancements in Melanoma Present New Challenges for Nurses
May 3rd 2014Advances in precision medicine for the treatment of melanoma include novel small-molecule inhibitors targeting signal transduction pathways in BRAF and NRAS mutations and cutting-edge drugs in the area of immune-modulation, whereby the patient's own immune system is mobilized to attack the tumor.
Nurses Can Adapt Programs From Other Conditions to Improve Oral Therapy Adherence
May 2nd 2014With an increasing number of cancer therapies being delivered orally, the importance of adherence continues to grow, and efforts to adapt adherence programs from other conditions like HIV could lead to better outcomes.
Denise Fleming on Pre-Treatment Phone Calls to Outpatient Chemotherapy Patients
May 2nd 2014Denise Fleming, RN, BSN, OCN, University of California Davis Health System, Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the idea of a pre-treatment education phone call to patients scheduled to receive their first chemotherapy regimen in an outpatient facility.
"You Are All Leaders"- Empowering Oncology Nurses to Dream Big and Inspire Others
May 1st 2014Oncology nurses attending today's keynote at the 2014 ONS Annual Congress received a rousing call to action from speaker Devon Harris, who told a packed arena at the Anaheim Convention Center that recognizing and deploying their own considerable leadership skills can reap manifold benefits for their patients, their peers, and their practices.