East Montgomery Times

Fox Chase Cancer Center nurses, including Margaret Perri, Elaine Spieller, and Melissa Pfeifer, showcased their recent study at the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Congress. Their work emphasized the need for training inpatient nurses at community hospitals to manage oncologic emergencies effectively.

Perri highlighted the significance of the study, saying, “This study was important to us because educating inpatient nurses on treating oncologic emergencies ensures the best patient outcomes. By fostering a relationship between the nurses in oncology ambulatory care and inpatient nurses, we can create a more seamless care experience for the patient.”

The establishment of a new outpatient oncologic ambulatory care center in a community hospital unfamiliar with oncology patients catalyzed this initiative. Inpatient nurses expressed eagerness to assist the new patients but recognized their need for relevant skills. “First, we assessed their current knowledge of these oncologic practices just to get an understanding of where they were starting from. Once we identified the most basic and common oncologic emergencies, we wanted to make sure that these inpatient nurses would be able to identify and treat them accordingly,” said Perri.

Training sessions covered fundamental oncologic emergencies, their signs, symptoms, and appropriate treatments. Inpatient nurses received reference materials, and open communication channels were established with oncology teams. This new framework aimed to build a supportive network for enhanced patient outcomes.

Perri concluded the training led to new partnerships between ambulatory and inpatient nursing teams. Pfeifer added, “The inpatient nurses now have a greater understanding and a larger network to provide evidence-based practice and ensure patient safety. Collaboration among the healthcare system ensures that patients are receiving continuum of care across the patient experience. This leads to greater satisfaction among patients, caregivers, and healthcare employees.”

The research findings were presented at a poster session during the 50th Annual ONS Congress in Denver from April 9-13.