title: The role of the breast care nurse in patient and family care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the role of the breast care nurse in caring for patients and families.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The breast care nurse is an expert clinical nurse who plays a significant role in the care of women/men and their families with breast cancer. The role of these nurses has expanded since the 1990s in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online survey was sent to breast care nurses using peak body databases (n = 100). The survey consisted of nineteen nurse roles and functions from a previous Delphi technique study. Nurses rated the importance and frequency of role elements using a five-point Likert scale and four open-ended questions relating to role.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 89 respondents. Most of the sample were from remote (n = 37, 41%) and rural areas (n = 47, 52%). The majority of responses regarding importance and frequency of the BCN role had a mean score above 4, which corresponds to 'moderately important' and 'occasionally as needed'. There were significant differences between the level of importance and frequency on 10 items. Four role themes arose from the thematic analysis: Breast care nurses as patient advocates, patient educators, care coordinators and clinical experts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study delineated the important nurses role in caring for patients and families during a critical time of their life. Further, it details the important nursing roles and functions undertaken by these nurses and compared this to the frequency with which these nurses perform these aspects of their role.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study further delineates the important role that the nurses play in caring for patients and families during a critical time of their life. It extends further the frequency and importance of the supportive care and the need to educate their nurses on their role in providing spiritual care and research.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Parramatta Campus, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauretta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luck
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University/Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and Centre for Nursing Research and Practice Development, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Harrison Ng
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Chok
authors.affiliation: Cancer Care Centre, Bundaberg, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Western Sydney University/Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District and Centre for Nursing Research and Practice Development, Nepean Hospital, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2986-4510
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilkes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: breast cancer; nursing workforce; role development