A Call for Resilience and Rest for the Oncology Nurse

If there is one thing that we are hoping to see in 2022, it is respite for the oncology nurse.

The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than most of us predicted, and extra demands and strain have been placed upon the shoulders of all those who work in health care—particularly nurses. This issue’s Nurse’s Notes addresses the importance of taking personal time and resting to build resilience in everyday life. Our cover story looks ahead to the post–COVID-19 world and examines lasting practice changes, the endurance of telemedicine, adjusted visitor regulations, and more.

Similarly, in this issue, we showcase various methods of eliminating burnout. Flip over to our Medical Economics® column to read up on how a novel device can help clinicians combat mental and spiritual fatigue.

As always, our Medical World News® section keeps you up-to-date on practice-changing approvals in oncology. Follow our coverage of the 2021 accelerated approvals of asciminib (Scemblix), for the treatment of adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase, and tisotumab vedotin-tftv (Tivdak), for adult patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy.

In addition, our Clinical Insights column provides key updates from the most anticipated oncology conferences held toward the end of 2021, including the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies continue to revolutionize the realm of hematologic malignancies, and there is potential power with oral selective estrogen receptor degraders to eliminate the need for intramuscular injections in breast cancer. Updates with both treatments can be found in this section.

The value of nurses cannot be overemphasized, and our feature story discusses how they can be at the forefront of electronic smoking cessation among young people. Moreover, our Adverse Events Report provides a primer on cannabis in the oncology space, as patients may feel more comfortable speaking to their nurse than their oncologist about their interests or concerns regarding medical cannabis. Lastly, our Advanced Practice Providers Page features a conversation about helping patients undergoing treatment manage cancer-related fatigue, and The Vitals podcast highlights how the implantation of phone triage programs can help improve wait times and make care more accessible to patients. Don’t forget to scan the QR code to listen to the full episode online.

As demonstrated by literature, palliative care can greatly improve patient outcomes. Our Partner Perspectives offers input on the value of the oncology nurse in increasing palliative care referrals at the most effective time in a patient’s treatment.

As we move forward, we want to thank oncology nurses everywhere for their dedication and service. We implore you to make this year one that is focused on healing and recovery and know that we are there with you every step of the way.