Abstract CN12
Background
The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) advocacy working group have collated preliminary data on occupational safety of cancer nurses across Europe. The preliminary data from the European Cancer Nursing Index (ECNI) has identified disparities in occupational standards for nurses across Europe. We as a group are advocating for the development of an accreditation system for all cancer units to aspire to; we are proposing the designing of a tool to promote a high standard of nursing care incorporating occupational safety with care quality indicators.
Methods
The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) have joint standards with ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) (2016) surrounding safe standards for Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) which incorporates education, standards as well as audit. Equally, the Joint Accreditation Committee ISCT-Europe & EBMT (JACIE) have a programme of accreditation that incorporates standards for nursing to ensure safety of patients undergoing BMT (Bone Marrow Transplantation). The EONS advocacy working group are proposing a similar framework for cancer nursing standards across Europe.
Results
The advocacy working group are proposing a set of core standards for cancer units to aspire to irrespective of which country/organisation you work in to ensure the occupational safety of cancer nurses. This a large piece of work that requires multiple agencies cooperating to ensure evidence-based standards are drafted. The following standards would be central to the EONS accreditation standards Education (including annual updates) Engineering and Administrative Control mechanisms endorsed PPE/Spillage kits and Extravasation kits Safe staffing levels Working hours Standards for pregnant/breast feeding nurses as well as cancer nurses trying to conceive Adverse event reporting including near misses.
Conclusions
The ECNI has proven to be a springboard for future work for the EONS advocacy working group. We would like to work with our partners at EONS as well as multi-national agencies to develop a core group of standards for oncology nurses across Europe. We are proposing a EONS accreditation system for all cancer units to aspire to. Like JACIE, units would require regular inspections to ensure they continue to meet the EONS accreditation standards.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
M.N. Fowler: Honoraria (self), PARPi presentation: Tesaro; Honoraria (self), EGFRi presentation: Eli Lily. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.