Abstract CN28
Background
Cancer nurses are crucial in safe administration, management and delivery of care. Guidelines, education and access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) vary between countries and healthcare organizations. European Oncology Nursing Society’s (EONS) Advocacy working group, set a strategic goal to raise awareness on safety. To gain knowledge on both patient- and occupational safety from European cancer nurses, a survey was conducted.
Methods
EONS Advocacy working group developed a survey on occupational and patient safety. The semi-structured survey was translated into 9 languages and consisted of a self-developed questionnaire and the validated Hospital Survey on Patient Safety. The survey was anonymous and handed out at various cancer nursing conferences and through the EONS webpage (Oct. 2019 to Aug. 2020). A database was developed by the Regional Cancer Centre in Stockholm-Gotland, Sweden. This abstract focusses on a sub-sample analysis of the free-text comments of the semi-structured survey.
Results
616 cancer nurses from 40 European countries responded. Free-text comments highlight a number of safety related issues experienced by nurses. Three themes were identified: 1) need for guidelines, policy/legislation, 2) address nursing shortage, 3) need for education. Nurses underlined the fact that they miss guidelines at an organization level and legislation on a European level in order to improve occupational and patient safety. Nurses signal a shortage in staff which increases work pressure and therefore safety is at risk. Thirdly, nurses emphasized the need for education. One nurse expressed: “knowledge is the answer in improving occupational and patient safety”.
Conclusions
Participating nurses made powerful statements on safety related issues and emphasized the need for education. Nurses signal important gaps in policy and legislation at European level and at their own organization. They see how staff shortage is effecting/influence their ability to provide good quality and safe nursing care for their patients. Current practices and exposures suggest risk that is not acceptable. Through this survey, it is clear there is a need for stronger legislation, guidelines and education for nurses working with cancer patients.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
EONS.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.