Achieving Comprehensive, Patient-Centered Cancer Services: Optimizing the Role of Advanced Practice Nurses at the Core of Precision Health.

OBJECTIVES: The field of oncology has been revolutionized by precision medicine, driven by advancements in molecular and genomic profiling. High-throughput genomic sequencing and non-invasive diagnostic methods have deepened our understanding of cancer biology, leading to personalized treatment approaches. Precision health expands on precision medicine, emphasizing holistic healthcare, integrating molecular profiling and genomics, physiology, behavioral, and social and environmental factors. Precision health encompasses traditional and emerging data, including electronic health records, patient-generated health data, and artificial intelligence-based health technologies. This article aims to explore the opportunities and challenges faced by advanced practice nurses (APNs) within the precision health paradigm. METHODS: We searched for peer-reviewed and professional relevant studies and articles on advanced practice nursing, oncology, precision medicine and precision health, and symptom science. RESULTS: APNs' roles and competencies align with the core principles of precision health, allowing for personalized interventions based on comprehensive patient characteristics. We identified educational needs and policy gaps as limitations faced by APNs in fully embracing precision health. CONCLUSION: APNs, including nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, are ideally positioned to advance precision health. Nevertheless, it is imperative to overcome a series of barriers to fully leverage APNs' potential in this context. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: APNs can significantly contribute to precision health through their competencies in predictive, preventive, and health promotion strategies, personalized and collaborative care plans, ethical considerations, and interdisciplinary collaboration. However, there is a need to foster education in genetics and genomics, encourage continuous professional development, and enhance understanding of artificial intelligence-related technologies and digital health. Furthermore, APNs' scope of practice needs to be reflected in policy making and legislation to enable effective contribution of APNs to precision health.

Pediatric Patients and Dietary Choices: Examining Alternative Options, Decision Making, and Misinformation.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is a key component of oncologic therapies and treatments. Patients and families are interested in the integration of alternative diets to promote therapy response as well as counteract the cancer. With the expansion of online and social media presence comes the endorsement of nonscientific claims. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to review alternative diets and discuss the basis of good nutrition in pediatric patients with cancer. This article will also explore where patients and families are likely to seek their information and assess their level of trust in the information. METHODS: Five alternative diets and two supplements were assessed through a literature review for their effect on pediatric patients with cancer. FINDINGS: Additional research is needed to prove consistent and definitive dietary benefits for pediatric patients with cancer; however, some diets have demonstrated promising results. A general diet for pediatric patients with cancer consists of an appropriate distribution of nutritious carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. However, unregulated sources of information remain a risk.

Recommendations for spiritual care in cancer patients: a clinical practice guideline for oncology nurses in Iran.

BACKGROUND: In spite of the necessity of implementing spiritual care practices for cancer patients, there is no clear process in this regard in palliative care programs of the health system of countries. The present study was designed with the aim of developing a clinical practice guideline of spiritual care in cancer patients for oncology nurses in the current context. METHODS: This is a multi-method study which was conducted in five stages within the framework of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline. A research committee consisting of four focal and 16 secondary members was formed. The stages included determining the scope of the study, developing guideline (a qualitative study and a systematic review, triangulation of the data, and producing a preliminary draft), consultation stage (validation of the guideline in three rounds of the Delphi study), as well as revision and publication stages. RESULTS: The clinical guideline of spiritual care with 84 evidence-based recommendations was developed in three main areas, including the human resources, care settings, and the process of spiritual care. CONCLUSIONS: We are hoping by applying this clinical guideline in oncology settings to move towards an integrated spiritual care plan for cancer patients in the context of our health system. Healthcare organizations should support to form spiritual care teams under supervision of the oncology nurses with qualified healthcare providers and a trained clergy. Through holistic care, they can constantly examine the spiritual needs of cancer patients alongside their other needs by focusing on the phases of the nursing process.

Microbial Growth on the Nails of Direct Patient Care Nurses Wearing Nail Polish.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether nurses wearing nail polish pose a greater infection risk to patients than nurses who are not wearing nail polish. SAMPLE & SETTING: 89 direct patient care oncology nurses at a large midwestern National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. METHODS & VARIABLES: The investigators assigned participants' three middle fingers of their dominant hand to three groups. RESULTS: Comparison of colony-forming units revealed that one-day-old polish exhibited fewer gram-positive microorganisms than the unpolished nail (p = 0.04). The four-day-old polish showed significantly more microorganisms than the one-day-old polish (p = 0.03). The same trend was demonstrated for gram-negative microorganisms, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.3 and p = 0.17, respectively). IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: The results should be interpreted and applied to expert nursing practice in the care of vulnerable patient populations. Each institution and practitioner should make their own decisions and interpretation of evidence into practice.

Synergy Between Licensed Rehabilitation Professionals and Clinical Exercise Physiologists: Optimizing Patient Care for Cancer Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVES: To differentiate between rehabilitation and exercise training and propose how rehabilitation professionals and exercise physiologists can collaborate to optimize cancer survivor care. DATA SOURCE: Professional organizations and peer-reviewed manuscripts. CONCLUSION: Both professions offer complementary skillsets that, when integrated, optimize the ability of the cancer care team to implement more effective survivorship care plans. Future models of care must incorporate efficient communications between the cancer rehabilitation program and oncology team, include various reimbursement/payment/funding options, and continuously assess program efficacy. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Nurses must be cognizant of physical needs (ie, functional and conditioning status) and cancer-related comorbidities when referring cancer survivors for exercise reconditioning.

The Role and Scope of Prehabilitation in Cancer Care.

OBJECTIVES: To recognize cancer prehabilitation as a pretreatment regimen to increase functional status for patients requiring cancer treatment. This article presents current evidence addressing the efficacy and benefits of prehabilitation regimens in different cancer survivor populations. DATA SOURCES: Studies and case reports in the PubMed database. CONCLUSION: Cancer prehabilitation may improve outcomes. Prehabilitation may include targeted or whole-body exercise, nutrition, education, psychologic counseling, and smoking cessation. Opportunities exist to further improve access to and delivery of multimodal prehabilitation, and nurses play a critical role in connecting patients to these services. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses who are knowledgeable of cancer treatment-related effects are poised to assess survivors for existing impairments, advocate for prehabilitation for existing and potential morbidities, and monitor functional status over time. As patient educators, they are key to informing cancer survivors about the role of prehabilitation.

Current evidence of education and safety requirements for the nursing administration of chemotherapy: An integrative review.

PURPOSE: The administration of chemotherapy is a complex task which has many safety issues. Safe administration of chemotherapy by nurses should be evidence-based. The aim of this integrative review was to synthesise the evidence about education and practice requirements for safe administration of chemotherapy by nurses. METHOD: A systematic search of four databases identified 17 studies for inclusion in this review. Key words: Nurse, chemotherapy, cytotoxic drug, administration, safety, education. Data extracted from the studies included author, year, aims, design, sample, outcome measures and findings. After screening the articles, extracting study data and completing a summary table, critical appraisal of the studies was completed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). RESULTS: All the studies focused on strategies to promote patient and nurse safety during nursing administration of chemotherapy. Content analysis identified five themes: governance, process safeguards, communication, interdisciplinary collaboration and education. Key strategies or interventions that increased patient and/or nurse safety identified were standardised computer-generated chemotherapy orders, barcodes, medication safety procedures, education and simulated learning. CONCLUSIONS: This review found low-level evidence exists about the education and safety requirements for nursing administration of chemotherapy. High-level research is needed to assist healthcare services to select evidence-based educational and safety strategies and provide appropriately resourced work environments to support the safe nursing administration of chemotherapy and deliver the best possible patient outcomes.

The Power of Reiki: Feasibility and Efficacy of Reducing Pain in Children With Cancer Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Purpose: Reiki is a growing complementary therapy in pediatric oncology that needs evidence to become more credible among the health community. A within-subject design experiment was conducted to pilot testing the feasibility and efficacy of Reiki to provide pain relief among pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Method: Pediatric patients undergoing HSCT during the inpatient phase in the Stem Cell Transplantation Unit were eligible to participate to the pilot study. Short and medium effects were assessed investigating the increase or decrease of patient's pain during three specific time periods ("delta") of the day: morning of the Reiki session versus assessment before Reiki session (within subjects control period), assessment before Reiki session versus assessment after Reiki session (within subjects experimental period) and assessment after Reiki session versus morning the day after Reiki session (within subject follow-up period). The long-term effects were verified comparing the pain evolution in the day of the Reiki session with the following rest day. Results: The effect of 88 Reiki therapy sessions in nine patients (Mage = 12; Female = 61%) was analyzed following a short, medium, and long-term perspective. Repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed a significant difference among the three periods (F = 17,17 p < .0001): A decrease of the pain occurred in the experimental period in short and medium term, while in the follow-up period, the pain level remained stable. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using Reiki therapy in pediatric cancer patients undergoing HSCT. Furthermore, these findings evidence that trained pediatric oncology nurses can insert Reiki into their clinical practice as a valid instrument for diminishing suffering from cancer in childhood.

Nursing interventions in palliative care in Pediatric Oncology: an integrative review.

OBJECTIVE: to identify, in scientific productions, nursing interventions in palliative care in children and adolescents with cancer. METHOD: integrative review of the literature through the databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, IBECS, LILACS and SCIELO, carried out in October and November 2017. RESULTS: we analyzed 18 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that, among the articles selected, Brazil is the country with the largest number of publications and that interventions such as music therapy, massage, ludic application, early consultation of palliative care, social interventions and physical exercises aimed at the resolution of a specific symptom obtained better results when compared to interventions that aimed at the comprehensiveness of palliative care. FINAL CONSIDERATION: we conclude that greater emphasis should be given to palliative care in academic and professional training and that further studies in search of the best evidence should be conducted to support nursing Evidence-Based Practices.

Nursing interventions in palliative care in Pediatric Oncology: an integrative review / Intervenciones de enfermería en los cuidados paliativos en Oncología Pediátrica: una revisión integrativa / Intervenções de enfermagem nos cuidados paliativos em Oncologia Pediátrica: revisão integrative

ABSTRACT Objective: to identify, in scientific productions, nursing interventions in palliative care in children and adolescents with cancer. Method: integrative review of the literature through the databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, IBECS, LILACS and SCIELO, carried out in October and November 2017. Results: we analyzed 18 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that, among the articles selected, Brazil is the country with the largest number of publications and that interventions such as music therapy, massage, ludic application, early consultation of palliative care, social interventions and physical exercises aimed at the resolution of a specific symptom obtained better results when compared to interventions that aimed at the comprehensiveness of palliative care. Final Consideration: we conclude that greater emphasis should be given to palliative care in academic and professional training and that further studies in search of the best evidence should be conducted to support nursing Evidence-Based Practices.

RESUMEN Objetivo: identificar, en las producciones científicas, las intervenciones de enfermería en los cuidados paliativos en niños y adolescentes con cáncer. Método: revisión integradora de la literatura en las bases de datos: CINAHL, MEDLINE, IBECS, LILACS e SCIELO, realizado en octubre y noviembre 2017. Resultados: se analizaron 18 artículos que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Los resultados mostraron que, entre los artículos seleccionados, Brasil es el país con más publicaciones y intervenciones como: musicoterapia, masaje, aplicación del lúdico, consulta precoz de cuidados paliativos, intervenciones sociales y ejercicios físicos que objetivaron la resolución de un síntoma específico obtuvieron mejores resultados si se compararon las intervenciones que objetivaban la integralidad de los cuidados paliativos. Consideraciones Finales: concluimos que el mayor énfasis debe ser dado a los cuidados paliativos en la formación académica y profesional y que nuevos estudios en la búsqueda de las mejores evidencias deben ser realizados para basar las prácticas de enfermería basadas en evidencias.

RESUMO Objetivo: identificar, nas produções científicas, as intervenções de enfermagem nos cuidados paliativos em crianças e adolescentes com câncer. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura através das bases de dados: CINAHL, MEDLINE, IBECS, LILACS e SCIELO, realizado em outubro e novembro de 2017. Resultados: foram analisados 18 artigos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Os resultados mostraram que, dentre os artigos selecionados, o Brasil é o país com maior número de publicações e que as intervenções como: musicoterapia, massagem, aplicação do lúdico, consulta precoce de cuidados paliativos, intervenções sociais e exercícios físicos que objetivaram a resolução de uma sintoma específico obtiveram melhores resultados se comparadas as intervenções que objetivavam a integralidade dos cuidados paliativos. Considerações Finais: concluímos que maior ênfase deve ser dada aos cuidados paliativos na formação acadêmica e profissional e que novos estudos em busca das melhores evidências devem ser realizados para embasar as práticas de enfermagem baseadas em evidências.

Nursing Guide to Management of Major Symptoms in Patients with Malignant Glioma.

OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview of the symptoms commonly experienced by patients with malignant glioma, and discuss the pathophysiology and interventions associated with those. DATA SOURCES: A review of published scientific literature and clinical literature, and online information from National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Oncology Nursing Society, Epilepsy Foundation of America, and the American Brain Tumor Association. CONCLUSION: The unique symptom burden associated with a malignant glioma diagnosis often disrupts the lives of patients and their caregivers. Clinical support and interventions addressing malignant glioma-related focal deficits, seizures, headaches, venous thromboembolism, mood disturbances, fatigue, and sleep-wake disturbance can positively impact patient and caregiver experiences while living with malignant glioma. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Understanding the pathophysiology of these symptoms and reviewing nursing-led and supported interventions will empower the nurse in providing comprehensive care to patients with malignant glioma and their caregivers.

End-of-Life Care for Patients with Glioma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe best practices and guidelines in symptom management at the end of life for adults with malignant glioma. DATA SOURCES: Journal articles, evidence-based reviews, textbooks, and clinical guidelines. CONCLUSION: Symptom management is an essential element of end-of-life care that aims to preserve dignity and quality of life for patients with glioma and their family caregivers. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Advance care planning using a holistic approach to the patient's symptoms experience and goals of care are necessary to develop, implement, and evaluate outcomes of an evidence-based plan of care tailored for each patient and family.

Approved Treatments for Patients with Recurrent High-grade Gliomas.

OBJECTIVES: To review the existing glioma literature and National Comprehensive Cancer Network current standard-of care guidelines for recurrent high-grade glioma, which includes surgery, radiation, and systemic therapies. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, MedlinePlus, Science Direct, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and Google Scholar were searched. Key words for databases were high-grade glioma, glioblastoma, recurrent, surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy. CONCLUSION: Approved treatments for patients with recurrent high-grade glioma are limited and do not significantly impact progression-free survival rates, nor do they offer long-term benefit in symptom improvement or quality of life. Particular consideration for progression versus pseudoprogression should be evaluated before pursuing recurrent therapies. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Given the limited availability of standard-of-care treatments, clinical trials should be prioritized to maximize future treatment options. Individual performance status, genetic and molecular profiles, as well as goals of care and quality of life are important considerations in the context of treatment plans.

Cholangiocarcinoma: Treatment, Outcomes, and Nutrition Overview for Oncology Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Cholangiocarcinoma is a cancer that arises from the bile ducts inside or outside of the liver. Although it is a rare cancer, cholangiocarcinoma appears to be rising in incidence in the United States and worldwide. OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma frequently presents with biliary emergencies from diagnosis through treatment. The lethality of this cancer stems, in part, from challenges with supportive care during treatment. This article provides an overview of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, including identification of risk factors, differences in treatment approaches, palliation of symptoms, and insight into commonly asked questions. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the current literature regarding incidence, prevalence, and treatment of cholangiocarcinoma was conducted. FINDINGS: Nursing literature regarding cholangiocarcinoma is scarce. Studies that focus on nursing care, symptom management, and nursing management of patients with biliary obstruction are needed. Nutrition and palliative care management of patients with cholangiocarcinoma are key areas of nursing management.

Clinical Research Nurse Education: Using Scope and Standards of Practice to Improve Care.

A staff shortage of clinical research nurses leaves a few to cover the jobs of many, and heavy workloads lead to decreased quality care and practices. A new plan of hiring inexperienced nurses was implemented at a comprehensive cancer center to help quickly fill roles; however, challenges arose with training. In response, the research nurse leadership team created a course using the clinical research nursing scope and standards of practice. The results validated the need for this course and supported plans to continue to provide the course to new hires.

Suggesting a Practical Theory to Oncology Nurses: Case Report of a Child in Discomfort.

PURPOSE: Children with cancer are faced with many challenges related to their disease that disturbs their comfort. The aim of this study was to apply Kolcaba's comfort theory for a child with cancer. DESIGN: A case study design was used. METHODS: We applied Kolcaba's comfort theory for a young boy with cancer who was sad and in discomfort because of intravenous access procedures. Following Kolcaba's taxonomy of needs for comfort in the spiritual and mental level, we designed a new intervention. FINDINGS: Kolcaba's comfort theory is an appropriate approach which not only helps to assess and evaluate comfort holistically but also assists in performing innovative interventions to provide comfort for children with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Kolcaba's comfort theory is a practical theory for oncology nurses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nursing theories can improve the quality of clinical care.

Medical Cannabis: The Oncology Nurse's Role in Patient Education About the Effects of Marijuana on Cancer Palliation
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BACKGROUND: Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is legal either medicinally or recreationally in 29 states and the District of Columbia, with a majority of the U.S. adult population now living in states where cannabis is legal for medicinal use. As an advocate for patient autonomy and informed choice, the oncology nurse has an ethical responsibility to educate patients about and support their use of cannabis for palliation.
. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to discuss the human endocannabinoid system as a basis for better understanding the palliative and curative nature of cannabis as a medicine, as well as review cannabis delivery methods and the emerging role of the oncology nurse in this realm.
. METHODS: This article examines the literature and uses a theoretical-conceptual method to explore the oncology nurse's role in supporting the use of medicinal cannabis by patients with cancer. 
. FINDINGS: The oncology nurse can play a pivotal role in supporting patients' use of cannabis for palliation.

Cancer Prevention and Detection: Application Across the Cancer Trajectory

Oncology nurses have many opportunities to implement cancer prevention and early detection recommendations across the cancer trajectory. Understanding the principles that guide the recommendations is important to providing comprehensive oncology care; many readily available resources can assist oncology nurses with this education. Guidelines for the prevention and early detection of malignancy are based on a comprehensive cancer risk assessment that includes past medical history, lifestyle factors, family history, and, in some cases, genetic testing. 
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Aiming for a holistic integrated service for men diagnosed with prostate cancer - Definitions of standards and skill sets for nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

PURPOSE: To establish a comprehensive set of recommendations for the service structure and skill set of nurses and allied healthcare professionals in prostate cancer care. METHODS: Using components of formal consensus methodology, a 30-member multidisciplinary panel produced 53 items for discussion relating to the provision of care for prostate cancer patients by specialist nurses and allied healthcare professionals. Items were developed by two rounds of email correspondence in which, first, items were generated and, second, items refined to form the basis of a consensus meeting which constituted the third round of review. The fourth and final round was an email review of the consensus output. RESULTS: The panel agreed on 33 items that were appropriate for recommendations to be made. These items were grouped under categories of "Environment" and "Patient Pathway" and included comments on training, leadership, communication and quality assessment as well as specific items related to prostate diagnosis clinics, radical treatment clinics and follow-up survivor groups. CONCLUSIONS: Specialist nurses and allied healthcare professionals play a vital role alongside urologists and oncologists to provide care to men with prostate cancer and their families. We present a set of standards and consensus recommendations for the roles and skill-set required for these practitioners to provide gold-standard prostate cancer care. These recommendations could form the basis for development of comprehensive integrated prostate cancer pathways in prostate cancer centres as well as providing guidance for any units treating men with prostate cancer.

Distress Screening: Evaluating a Protocol for Gynecologic Cancer Survivors
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BACKGROUND: A gynecologic cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment may cause significant morbidity, leading to increased distress levels and poorer quality of life (QOL) for survivors. Clinicians have explored opportunities to integrate comprehensive distress management protocols into clinical settings using existing supportive care resources.
. OBJECTIVES: The aims were to improve multidisciplinary management of distress using a clinical pathway for gynecologic cancer survivors and to improve patient satisfaction with distress management.
. METHODS: This study is phase II of a quality improvement initiative to assess distress using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer and Patient Related Outcome Measures Information Systems QOL tool and to evaluate the use of a clinical pathway to identify and link gynecologic cancer survivors to multidisciplinary supportive care resources. The data were compared to results from phase I of this study with data triangulation that included medical record audits.
. FINDINGS: Thirty-five percent of survivors reported distress scores of 5 or greater. The use of a clinical pathway model for universal distress screening increased referrals to multidisciplinary service teams from 19 to 34, with a 32% increase in social work referrals. Patients appreciated the comprehensive approach the healthcare team used to treat cancer and help improve QOL.