title: Responding to challenging interactions with families: A training module for inpatient oncology nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sustaining the well-being of the caregiving family is a critical agenda in cancer care. In the multidisciplinary team, nurses often serve as a bridge between the family and oncology team. Evidence suggests that dealing with difficult family dynamics is a common source of stress for oncology nurses, yet nurses typically receive very little guidance on how to achieve an effective partnership with families under these circumstances. We report on the application and preliminary evaluation of a new training module for improving nurses' skills in responding collaborative to challenging family situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Training was delivered to 282 inpatient oncology nurses at a comprehensive cancer center over 2 years. Posttraining surveys measured perceived changes in confidence working with families, as well as the utility and relevance of this training. A 6-month follow-up survey measured continued use of skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the nurses, 75%-90% reported that the skills learned were useful and relevant to their setting. Retrospective pre-post ratings suggested increased confidence in managing stressful encounters with families.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further investigation is needed to observe how nurses transport these skills into their practice settings and to understand the role of the nurse-as-family champion within the larger multidisciplinary team. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Talia I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Zaider
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Smita C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manna
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Nessa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Coyle
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pehrson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammonds
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
authors.forename: Carma L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bylund
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D005192:Family Health / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000639:trends*; D000078329:Workforce