Nurses' experiences of cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Cancer Care Delivery
• Healthcare Professional Well-being

Background:

• Nursing care for cancer patients is crucial but complex.
• Understanding the patient and nurse experience in cancer settings is vital.
• Existing literature on nurses' experiences in oncology is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize research on nurses' experiences in cancer care.
• To explore how cancer nursing is perceived by patients and its impact on nurses.
• To identify gaps in research regarding oncology nursing practice and support.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on nurses' experiences in cancer treatment and care.
• Analysis of research on patient perceptions of nursing care.
• Examination of studies on nurse stress, communication, and skill development in oncology.

Main Results:

• Nursing care in cancer settings is generally viewed as valuable and supportive, though not universally.
• Oncology nursing is perceived as rewarding but also emotionally demanding for nurses.
• Evidence on nurse stress in cancer care is mixed, potentially linked to structural factors; further research is needed.
• Current communication skills research in nursing is limited by measurement-focused approaches.
• Observational studies offer insights into therapeutic nurse-patient interactions in cancer and end-of-life care.

Conclusions:

• Further research is essential to understand and support nurses in developing expert practice in cancer care.
• Developing strategies to sustain healthcare professionals in demanding oncology roles is critical.
• More detailed, comparative work is needed on the skills and experiences of nurses in various oncology roles, including nurse specialists.