The role experience of advanced practice nurses in oncology: An interpretative phenomenological study.

AIM(S): To understand the experiences of advanced practice nurses working in cancer care. DESIGN: Phenomenological qualitative study. METHODS: Three focus groups were held to collect qualitative data. Participants were recruited through theoretical non-probabilistic sampling of maximum variation, based on 12 profiles. Data saturation was achieved with a final sample of 21 oncology advanced practice nurses who were performing advanced clinical practice roles in the four centers from December 2021 to March 2022. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was performed following Guba and Lincoln's criteria of trustworthiness. The centers' ethics committee approved the study, and all participants gave written informed consent. Data analysis was undertaken with NVivo 12 software. RESULTS: Three broad themes emerged from the data analysis: the role performed, facilitators and barriers in the development of the role and nurses' lived experience of the role. CONCLUSION: Advanced practice nurses are aware that they do not perform their role to its full potential, and they describe different facilitators and barriers. Despite the difficulties, they present a positive attitude as well as a capacity for leadership, which has allowed them to consolidate the advanced practice nursing role in unfavourable environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION: These results will enable institutions to establish strategies at different levels in the implementation and development of advanced practice nursing roles. REPORTING METHOD: Reporting complied with COREQ criteria for qualitative research. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS: No patient or public contribution.

Delphi survey on the application of advanced practice nursing competencies: Strong points and unfinished business in cancer care.

AIM: This study assessed the application of advanced practice nursing competencies in cancer care to identify obstacles to their full implementation. BACKGROUND: Internationally, the implementation of advanced practice nursing roles depends on the context and environment, which shape the definition, scope and competencies associated with these roles. METHODS: Nurses participated in two rounds of an online Delphi survey about the competencies of advanced practice oncology nurses. The threshold for expert consensus was set at 75%. RESULTS: Eleven competency domains were proposed; all yielded consensus of over 75%. However, for 57.8% of the specific competencies proposed in round 1 and for 62.2% in round 2, there was no consensus on which were applied in practice. There was more agreement on the competencies applied in the domains of direct clinical practice, consultation and collaboration and interprofessional relations than in dimensions such as health care promotion, quality improvement, evidence-based practice and research. Barriers related to unimplemented competencies were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The competencies applied in advanced practice nursing reflect incomplete development of these roles. Domains related to direct clinical practice, consultation and collaboration and interprofessional relations are relatively well developed, whereas those related to leadership, research, evidence-based practice and quality improvement are not. The identified barriers hindering implementation of some competencies can inform strategies to develop this role in cancer care. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Hospital administrators and nurse managers should reflect and be mindful of the development of advanced practice nurse (APN) competencies along with the challenges associated with implementing advanced practice roles.

Patients' and professionals' experiences with advanced practice nursing in cancer care: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The growing complexity of cancer treatments requires changes in how care is organized and who provides it. The incorporation of advanced practice nursing roles within multidisciplinary teams can improve care in cancer patients. This study aims to understand the lived experience of cancer patients and multidisciplinary professionals in relation to the care provided by advanced practice nurses (APN). METHODS: Phenomenological qualitative study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and a field diary. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling; until theoretical data saturation was achieved. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was performed, following Guba and Lincoln's criteria for trustworthiness. RESULTS: Interviews were performed with 18 professionals and 11 patients, from high-complexity public hospitals between March-December 2021. The main themes that emerged were: Advanced practice nurse role and competencies, Benefits provided by the APN, and Relevant aspects of nursing care. CONCLUSION: Advanced practice nurses play a fundamental role in cancer care, making positive contributions to the patient experience and to the multidisciplinary team's work. Elucidating the contribution of advanced practice nurses in oncology will facilitate the definition of their specific competencies and, in turn, the implementation of training and management strategies to consolidate this figure in specialized centers.

Usefulness and Safety Evaluation of Chemotherapy Administration Device for Nurses: Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVE: Antineoplastic drugs are considered high risk, and computerized systems favor safe administration. The objective of the study was to test the usefulness and safety of a new mobile device compared to the standard device for administering these antineoplastic treatments. DATA SOURCES: This multicenter, quasi-experimental pre-post study assessed an intervention in two cancer centers in June and July 2020. Nineteen nurses participated by completing 57 questionnaires. The outcome variables were usefulness, ease of use, efficiency, safety, attitudes, and satisfaction with the new mobile device; they were measured by means of the USE questionnaire (Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of use) and the Technology Attitude Survey (TAS). Professionals rated the new device higher than the standard device and showed a favorable attitude toward technology. CONCLUSION: The tested device was useful, effective, safe, and specific to the antineoplastic treatment administration process, garnering greater satisfaction among professionals than the standard. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: As new technologies can improve care for patients with cancer, it is essential to develop strategies to improve the experience of professionals for optimal implementation.

Complicaciones derivadas de la inserción periférica de catéter central con punción ciega o ecoguiada / Complications derived of Peripherally-Inserted Central Catheters with blind or ultra-sound guided puncture

OBJETIVO: determinar la influencia de la técnica de colocación de catéteres centrales de inserción periférica (PICC), ecoguiada frente a punción ciega, sobre la incidencia de flebitis y otras complicaciones en pacientes oncológicos. MÉTODO: estudio analítico observacional de cohorte retrospectivo (grupo punción ciega versus grupo con técnica ecoguiada). Se incluyeron, 168 pacientes a los que se les colocó un PICC durante los años 2013 a 2015 (seleccionados por muestreo aleatorio simple), con punción ciega (n= 114) o ecoguiada (n= 54) en el Hospital de Día del ICO-Hospital Duran I Reynals (Barcelona). Las variables estudiadas fueron la incidencia de flebitis y otras complicaciones asociadas al catéter, el tiempo hasta la aparición de las complicaciones, el motivo de retirada y el tiempo de duración del catéter. RESULTADOS: la edad media de los pacientes en ambos grupos fue similar (59,3 en grupo punción ciega y 59,7 años en grupo con técnica ecoguiada). El tumor más habitual fue el cáncer de cabeza y cuello, aunque con diferencias significativas en la distribución de los mismos entre ambos grupos. La flebitis fue la complicación más incidente. Ocurrió en el 16,7% del grupo con punción ciega frente al 1,8% en colocación ecoguiada (RR= 0,11; p= 0,012). La flebitis apareció de media a los 30 días (DE: 6,93) en los catéteres ecoguiados y a los 11 días (DE: 8,58) en los insertados sin ecógrafo (p= 0,002). CONCLUSIONES: la implantación de la técnica ecoguiada para la inserción de PICC frente a la punción ciega se asocia a una reducción en la incidencia y en el tiempo de aparición de la flebitis

OBJECTIVE: to determine the impact of the ultrasound-guided technique for peripherally-inserted central catheters (PICCs) vs. blind puncture, on the incidence of phlebitis and other complications in oncology patients. METHOD: an observational, analytical, retrospective cohort study (blind puncture arm vs. arm with ultrasound-guided technique). The study included 168 patients with a PICC inserted from 2013 to 2015 (selected through simple random sampling), with blind (n= 114) or ultrasound-guided puncture (n= 54) at the Day Hospital of the ICO-Hospital Duran I Reynals (Barcelona). The variables studied were: incidence of phlebitis and other catheter-related complications, time until the development of complications, reason for removal, and time of catheter duration. RESULTS: the mean age of patients in both arms was similar (59.3 years in the blind puncture arm and 59.7 years in the arm with ultrasound-guided technique). The most frequent tumour was head and neck, though with significant differences in distribution between both arms. Phlebitis was the complication with the highest incidence, which occurred in 16.7% of the blind puncture arm vs. 1.8% with ultrasound-guided insertion (RR= 0.11; p= 0.012). The mean time for phlebitis development was 30 days (SD: 6.93) for ultrasound-guided catheters, and 11 days (SD: 8.58) for those inserted without ultrasound (p= 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: the implementation of the ultrasound-guided technique for PICC insertion vs. blind puncture was associated with a reduction in the incidence of phlebitis and the time to its development