title: A national survey of oncology content in prelicensure registered nurse programs.
abstract: The current and projected increase in newly diagnosed cancer patients and survivors supports the nation's need to prepare a nursing workforce that is skilled to meet the health care needs of these individuals. It is likely that cancer patients, especially survivors, will receive care from nurses without specialized oncology education who work in various nononcology clinical settings. Because of the lacking practice standards and educational guidelines for nurses who care for cancer survivors in nononcology settings, this article describes findings of a national survey that identified the importance and depth of cancer-care content included in accredited prelicensure registered nurse programs (diploma, associate and baccalaureate degrees). Findings revealed that a gap exists between respondents' reported importance and depth of cancer-care content currently taught and that importance rated consistently higher than depth taught. Lack of time was the most frequently cited barrier. Results will be used to design generalist oncology resources for nurse educators.
authors.affiliation: Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA. lockhart@duq.edu
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Such Lockhart
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galioto
authors.forename: Melinda G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Oberleitner
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Jane Katharine
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Van Deusen-Morrison
authors.forename: Andra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Deborah K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Mayer
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004510:Education, Nursing, Diploma Programs; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States