Nurses' perspectives on the care provided to cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Optimal care for patients with cancer involves the provision of effective physical and psychological care. Nurses are key providers of this care; however, the effectiveness of care is dependent on the nurses' training, skills, attitudes, and beliefs.


OBJECTIVE
The study reported in this article explored cancer nurses' perceptions of their ability to provide psychosocial care to adults with cancer and their subsequent evaluation of the effectiveness of the care provided. This study was the first part of a larger project that evaluated the effectiveness of Proctor's model of clinical supervision in an acute care oncology environment.


METHODS
An exploratory qualitative design was used for this study. One focus group interview was conducted with 10 randomly selected registered nurses working within the oncology units at a major Melbourne tertiary referral hospital. Analytic themes were developed from the coded data using content analysis.


RESULTS
The 4 analytic themes to emerge from the data were frustration, difficult to look after yourself, inadequate communication processes, and anger.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings from this study indicate that, although informal mechanisms of support are available for oncology nurses, most of these services are not accessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Leaders in cancer care hospital settings need to urgently develop and implement a model of support for their oncology nurses who are attempting to provide psychosocial support to oncology patients.
Centre for Clinical Nursing Research, Epworth/Deakin Nursing Research Centre, Victoria, Australia. rosemary.watts@deakin.edu.au
Rosemary
R
Watts
Mari
M
Botti
Marion
M
Hunter
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003144:Communication Barriers; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005639:Frustration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014739:Victoria