Educational initiatives for cancer nursing in Europe

The European Communities' "Europe against Cancer" programme proposed that Member States should recognize the specialist nature of oncology and recommended a plan of action relating to the training of health workers in cancer (Action 51 Europe Against Cancer Programme 1987-1989). The Advisory Committee on Training in Nursing arranged a review of training for nurses in cancer to be undertaken throughout Europe. One of the proposals formulated from the findings of this report was to produce a core curriculum and subsequent additional curricula in cancer for trained nurses throughout Europe. Following a workshop of European nurse educators and practitioners early in 1989, a core curriculum was produced by the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) and was published in September 1989. This paper outlines the content of that core curriculum and presents EONS' subsequent plans to design educational courses in all aspects of cancer care for European nurses. These courses will be supported by written and audiovisual materials, which may also be used for home learning.