title: The context of oncology nursing practice: an integrative review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In oncology, where the number of patients is increasing, there is a need to sustain a quality oncology nursing workforce. Knowledge of the context of oncology nursing can provide information about how to create practice environments that will attract and retain specialized oncology nurses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this review were to determine the extent and quality of the literature about the context of oncology nursing, explicate how "context" has been described as the environment where oncology nursing takes place, and delineate forces that shape the oncology practice environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The integrative review involved identifying the problem, conducting a structured literature search, appraising the quality of data, extracting and analyzing data, and synthesizing and presenting the findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Themes identified from 29 articles reflected the surroundings or background (structural environment, world of cancer care), and the conditions and circumstances (organizational climate, nature of oncology nurses' work, and interactions and relationships) of oncology nursing practice settings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The context of oncology nursing was similar yet different from other nursing contexts. The uniqueness was attributed to the dynamic and complex world of cancer control and the personal growth that is gained from the intense therapeutic relationships established with cancer patients and their families.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The context of healthcare practice has been linked with patient, professional, or system outcomes. To achieve quality cancer care, decision makers need to understand the contextual features and forces that can be modified to improve the oncology work environment for nurses, other providers, and patients.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada. dbakker@laurentian.ca
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bakker
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fitch
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cummings
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D015279:Organizational Culture; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D000078329:Workforce; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*