CIS Nurses Need Continuous and Structured Education Plan

Cancer research has successfully gone forward and there is every day more understanding about cancer
biology, biochemistry and targeted treatments. As a result, cancer treatments are getting increasingly
complex and individual. Even if we don`t give opinions and answer our patients’ questions at a general level
we must make sure that all CIS nurses are aware of the latest developments in cancer treatments and what
is new on the whole field of cancer.

These days when there is a whole lot of information available, patients and their families are more aware
about diagnoses, treatments possibilities, screening methods etc. It is still sometimes difficult for them to
understand all the information that has come out. It is important that CIS nurses can explain and translate
information in a way that makes it easier to understand.

In response to the need we have planned a structured, annual education calendar. Every month (except
July) there is 1–2-hour webinar on various topics. We arrange speakers to talk about medical, psychosocial
and survivorship themes. In February there is a two-day Cancer Symposium organized by Cancer Foundation
Finland. Every year we focus on a specific cancer and speakers are from this special field. In November
Finnish Cancer Nurses organize Cancer Nursing Days (2 days) where we participate as exhibitors, attendees,
and also speakers now and then. The topics deal with psychosocial, medical, and nursing issues.

In November we arrange also our own three days training. First day is about hereditary cancer and genetic
counselling. This is a very special field that needs to be updated regularly. The following two days are a mix
of different topics and fields of cancer. This year we will focus on supporting survivorship, good quality of
life, well-being, and psychosocial issues. We decided to focus on these topics this time because it has been
seen that cancer patients and their families are increasingly in need and lacking psychosocial support. We
hope to get new tools from the experts to encourage patients’ self-management and tools how to support
their empowerment in new, effective ways.

Beside these we encourage all nurses to take part in other suitable trainings, congresses, and webinars both
domestic and international. It is also important that all by themselves will keep up with the latest news and
research around cancer topic. This is the way we can guarantee that we offer high-quality and reliable
services.

Being a counselling nurse in CIS is a demanding task. Taking care of work-life balance is important as well as
well-being at work. We organize work-counselling for CIS nurses once a month to discuss with the team,
share experiences and resolve difficult contacts and cases. It is important that nurses feel that their work is
meaningful and that they feel well. Only this way they can continue to provide individual service,
information, hope and support to patients and their families.

Submitted by: Tutta Kosonen, Cancer Society of Finland, tutta.kosonen@cancer.f