Cancer nurses can help reduce workforce stress

Media Release

17 February 2011

Cancer nurses can help reduce workforce stress

Cancer nurses have endorsed associate professor John Carter’s call for greater use of nurse practitioners (NP) in cancer care.

 Speaking on Morning Report this week, associate professor Carter, who is also clinical leader of Capital and Coast’s Blood and Cancer Centre, talked of a severely stretched cancer workforce, with  burnout, staff attrition and high demand for services all part of the equation. It was critical that these factors be addressed, he said, and greater use of NPs could be one way of easing the stress on the cancer workforce.

Incoming chair of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s cancer nurses’ group, Wendy Thomas, said NPs and other nurses working in advanced practice roles, could offer another option in improving cancer care.

“Internationally, the trend is to make better use of NPs. We agree with associate professor Carter that better use of NPs could ameliorate the stress on the total cancer workforce,” Thomas said.

Currently in New Zealand there are no NPs in cancer care but some are on the pathway to becoming NPs. There are two NPs in palliative care in New Zealand. Thomas said to support the development and continuation of NPs in this demanding field, tangible support from the government, the Ministries of Health and Education, and district health boards was needed. 

“Nurse practitioners specialising in cancer care in other countries make significant contributions to improving access to care for patients. New Zealand needs to develop, value and integrate NPs into cancer health services. Nurse practitioners have the education, research expertise and assessment skills to  provide a range of care options for patients and support doctors in managing the ever-increasing demands which are leading to a severely stretched cancer workforce,” Thomas said. 

Nurses working in cancer and haematology care are gathering in Wellington for their annual conference this weekend (February 18-19).

“The conference will showcase initiatives in how specialist cancer nurses are working with patients and within the multi-disciplinary team to enhance the care and support of people experiencing the cancer journey,” Thomas said.

ENDS

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