Nineteen Oncology Nursing Society members were included among the highly distinguished nurse leaders who will join the ranks of the American Academy of Nursing’s class of 2020 fellows at the academy’s annual conference, taking place virtually October 29–31, 2020.
Oncology nursing is a complex world that continues to evolve rapidly. However, one challenge that remains consistent is the ethical dilemmas nurses face when caring for patients with cancer. Complex care needs and lengthy hospital stays are common in our patient population and allow opportunity for nurses to develop relationships with patients and their families. Over the course of treatment, various ethical issues may arise, which nurses are at the forefront of identifying and acting on.
Wearing a mask is critical to slowing the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, but the public hasn’t always been compliant. In an effort to provide education and understanding, the American Nurses Association, American Medical Association, and American Hospital Association joined forces to promote a new public health awareness campaign.
Exemplary oncology nurses stand behind all of cancer’s treatments, supporting patients through side effects, shouldering their burdens and concerns, and advocating for quality care. Each year with its series of awards, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) recognizes just a few of the outstanding oncology professionals who have dedicated their lives to patient care.
Starting immunotherapy for bladder cancer shortly after initial treatment with chemotherapy is better than taking an extended break from cancer treatment, according to results from a study reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Oncology Center of Excellence confirmed that those with immunocompromised systems, including cancer, are at greater risk for serious outcomes or death after contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus.
Research influences care along every inch of the cancer continuum, from prevention to survivorship, enabling healthcare professionals and patients to share decisions that result in the most current and tailored care strategies. It’s a powerful tool that sets the groundwork for providing optimal health outcomes. However, we must work to eliminate unequal representation.
On August 7, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Guardant360 CDx assay as the first liquid biopsy companion diagnostic that also uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to identify patients with specific types of mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is the first approval to combine two technologies in one diagnostic test to guide treatment decisions.
Durvalumab immunotherapy became a new standard of care for patients with stage III unresectable non-small cell lung cancer whose disease did not progress following two cycles of platinum-based chemoradiotherapy after its approval in February 2018, and in March 2020, its indication was expanded for use as first-line treatment in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer as well. Key to keeping patients on immunotherapy treatment and giving them the best chance at long-term survival is effective management of immune-related adverse events.
What does the future of nursing research mean to you? How can nurse scientist-led studies provide information you can use in your daily practice? What gaps do you see in evidence to support nursing care?