Nursing

The Board of Directors established the Nursing Working Group (NRS WG) to address the shortage of oncology-trained nurses on the island of Ireland. The NRS WG focuses on expanding educational opportunities for Irish and Northern Irish nurses and promoting nursing and palliative care activities within the Consortium. The NRS WG also represents the Consortium in numerous events, such as the All Ireland NCI Cancer Conferences.

The NRS WG is comprised of oncology nurses from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the U.S. Members are clinicians, nurse educators, and nurse managers.

The chief nursing officers of Ireland and Northern Ireland rotate annually as chair of the NRS WG. Mr. Martin Bradley was appointed Chief Nursing Officer, Northern Ireland, in 2006 and assumed the NRS WG chairmanship in 2007.

NRS WG Objectives

• To address the shortage of oncology-trained nurses on the island of Ireland.
• To focus on expanding educational opportunities for island nurses.
• To promote nursing and palliative care activities.

FELLOWSHIPS AND TRAINING / OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSES

Clinical Trials E-Learning

One of the primary objectives of the NRS WG in 2005 was to identify methods of formal education opportunities for clinical trial nurses. A sub-group of the NRS WG was established to pursue the possibility of developing an e-learning package for clinical trials training within the island of Ireland. A formal consultation process was completed and Queen's University Belfast was commissioned by the Department of Health for Northern Ireland to deliver an e-learning module aimed to advance the skills, knowledge, and training of clinical research nurses. Dr. Fiona Alderdice developed a module comprised of twelve weekly sessions, two of which are conducted face-to-face. On-line interactions aim to promote further learning and exchange of practice across the island. The module, available for the first time in January 2007, provides an easily accessible training opportunity for clinical research nurses. All-Ireland participation has been facilitated with nurses attending from clinical research units both North and South. The call for 2008 applications has closed. Please check the site later for updates on the 2009 call for applications.

Click here for a detailed Fact Sheet on the January 2008 module.

NCI Clinical Training for Nurses

The NRS WG also facilitates the Consortium's sponsorship of the NCI Clinical Trials Training for Nurses program. Eighteen nurses from the island of Ireland have completed the training at NCI to date.

Oncology Nurses Worldwide Program

The Oncology Nursing Society established an Oncology Nurses Worldwide Program to connect oncology nurses who wish to meet, converse with, and develop meaningful relationships with nurses from around the world. Participants will communicate by email, postal mail, or phone with their partners on a regular basis to explore differences in global cultures when providing cancer care. Through advertising and word of mouth, the NRS WG hopes to cultivate extensive island oncology nurse participation in this program, which provides great opportunities to increase understanding of cancer care on a global scale and to see nursing through the eyes of a peer from another country.

For more information on the Oncology Nurses Worldwide Program go to http://onwvc.vc.ons.org/

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To learn more, visit Fellowships & Training. Nurses may also apply to the NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention program.

For more information on Palliative Care Activities, click here.

For Palliative Care Related links by Jurisdiction, click here.