Standardising Chemotherapy Nursing Practice across a Cancer Network

1. Standardising Chemotherapy Nursing Practice across a Cancer Network Claire Kelly Network Lead Nurse Cancer Care Alliance of Teesside, South Durham & North Yorkshire

2. Setting the Scene • Teesside, South Durham & North Yorkshire • Population of 1.4 million • Diverse population, predominantly deprived community • Scarce inward mobility • Established since 1997 post Calman-Hine

3. Chemotherapy Nursing Audit • 9 departments across 7 hospital sites • team practice, health & safety, administration, education & training • Findings • variations in practice and policies • lack of chemotherapy training in network • lack of evidence of competence & CPD

4. Chemotherapy Nurses Forum • Network wide membership • Monthly meetings in external venue • Prioritise issues from the audit and develop action plan • Peer support • Sharing resources and experiences • Working together to achieve shared goals

5. Standards & Competencies Local chemotherapy module Competency Framework

6. CPD - Competency Framework • CCA Competency Framework • Mapping the patient pathway - framework • Identified key stages across the pathway • Developed competencies for each stage • 4 levels • Knowledge, practice and evidence

7. Competencies • Patient Assessment • Holistic Practice • Prevention & Management of Side Effects • Chemotherapy Administration • Legal, ethical issues • Research, audit, evidence based practice

9. Education • Local chemotherapy module (Teesside University) • Education Standard • Content links to the competency framework • Taught by members of the Chemotherapy Forum • Multidisciplinary

10. Practice • Practice competencies linked to the theoretical module - accredited • Senior nurses assessed by external nurse consultant • Learning needs identified • Supported by chemotherapy nurses forum and competency framework

11. Education Pathway Chemo nurse Theory module Practice Competencies Competency Framework Theory module Competency Framework Pharmacist Porter Competency Framework

12. Challenges • Encouraging staff to accept new approaches to education • Practice Assessment - peer review • Relevance to peer review visits • Uptake by multidisciplinary teams • Ongoing implementation & evaluation

13. Outcomes • Standardised approach to education & training across the network • Availability of local accredited education • Standardised approach to monitoring of competencies • All chemotherapy staff have been involved in the project • Enhanced collaboration and sharing