Promoting cancer nursing education, training, and research in countries in transition

Abstract

Nurses are the majority of the healthcare workforce globally and have the most contact with people at risk for or living after a cancer diagnosis. Cancer care, including prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship and symptom management and palliative care, and survivorship issues, is provided by nurses. This is especially true in countries in transition where access to specialty personnel, resources, and training may be limited by conflict, economic factors, or geographical and/or technological isolation. Promoting equity in cancer care and reducing the global cancer burden necessitates specialty training for nurses in cancer care to include evidence-based, best practices across continuum of care. Global partnerships between countries, organizations, and academic institutions are one way to address specialty training in oncology nursing. Technology such as web-based resources and mobile health technology affords opportunities for distance training and consultation regardless of borders. Globalization of oncology nursing is needed to implement new, international initiatives and improve cancer care and control.