Radiation oncology nursing: Highlights of the first multi-disciplinary pan-Canadian workforce survey

This study examines the Canadian radiation oncology nursing workforce through a Pan-Canadian Radiation Oncology Health Human Resources survey conducted by the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/Association canadienne des infirmières (CANO/ACIO) partnered with the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists (CARO), the Canadian Organization of Medical Physicists (COMP), and the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT). The survey aimed to gather data on workforce capacity, workload, and scopes of practice, providing critical insights for predictive workforce modelling and policy development. The survey revealed significant variability in nursing full-time equivalents across radiation oncology centres, with large centres averaging more nursing staff per linear accelerator than small ones. The study also highlighted challenges in recruitment and retention, influenced by high workloads, prescriptive work schedules, and the need for specialized education. Despite these challenges, the shift toward team-based care models presents an opportunity to optimize nursing roles within radiation oncology, emphasizing the importance of specialized education and workforce planning. The findings underscore the necessity for a standardized approach to workforce modelling, considering patient acuity and other factors to ensure balanced resource allocation and improve care quality in radiation oncology settings.