Measuring the impact of an educational program on nurses: teaching an evidence-based approach to oral mucositis.

Oral mucositis, a cancer therapy side effect, can negatively affect quality of life. This study evaluated the effect of an educational program on nurses' knowledge and perceived need to change oral mucositis management practice. This study revealed that nurses' knowledge and perceived need to change practice were positively affected by the educational program.

Clinical nurse specialist practice in a care coordination model.

The goal of care coordination is to facilitate and enhance positive patient outcomes. The contribution that the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) can make toward the achievement of this goal is supported in the literature. The CNS can impact patient outcomes by influencing nursing practice and organizational systems for the delivery of quality, cost-effective patient care.

Promoting quality of life for geriatric oncology patients in acute care and critical care settings.

In 2004, the Oncology Nursing Society published a position paper on cancer in the elderly identifying cancer as a disease of aging. The National Cancer Institute Surveillance Epidemiology End Results data report that more than 50% of all cancers are diagnosed in individuals who are aged 65 or greater. Comorbidities prevalent in the elderly population place them at increased risk of developing side effects and toxicities from cancer treatment.