QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department is working with reduced space, which may lead to delays for those with less urgent concerns. Learn more here.
Starting Saturday, December 14, the entrance to the QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Department will change to 1840 Bell Road. Learn more.
Each and every day, Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care teams provide world-class, compassionate treatment and care to patients at one of the most vulnerable times in their life.
Cancer care relies on a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of health professionals – each with specific areas of expertise. Key among them are oncology nurses.
Four Nova Scotia oncology nurses recently received national recognition from CANO (Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology) for their roles in advancing and contributing to the collective expertise of oncology nursing in Canada.
Courtney Allingham, Carolyn Fifield and Krista Rigby were presented with awards for poster presentations in three categories: clinical practice, education and leadership and research and quality initiatives. Sarah Lace was awarded a scholarship to support certification in her field.
Courtney Allingham, Registered Nurse and Clinical Practice Leader in the Department of Radiation Oncology, was awarded second place in the clinical practice category for her presentation on an upcoming research project, which will compare the effectiveness of Gelclair, a newly approved over-the counter medication to prevent mouth sores, with a mouthwash that is currently used. Patients who agree to participate in the study will be randomly selected to one of three groups: 1) taking only Gelclair; 2) taking Gelclair in addition to the currently used mouth wash, or 3) continuing to only use the mouthwash.
The goal of the study is to determine which option prevents against mouth sores the best. The outcome may result in a different standard of care and will inform teams across the country about the best way to decrease mouth sores. “In doing so, we hope patients will be able to eat better, reducing the need for feeding tubes, narcotic use and fewer oral side effects,” said Allingham.
Carolyn Fifield, a Registered Nurse and Manager, Clinical Oncology and Patient Experience, for the Cancer Care Program was recognized with a second-place award for a poster presentation outlining a standardized approach to developing patient education materials based on clinical and varied person-centred needs. The approach describes development of a provincial education team to coordinate centralized intake and education development, which involves a gap analysis, literature review, copyright request, environmental scans, coordination of health provider and patient feedback, health literacy assessments, communication, and publishing. To meet different learning styles, education resources are created in multiple formats including videos, booklets and paper-based handouts.
Krista Rigby, a Registered Nurse and Director, Population Oncology, Cancer Care Program, was presented with a first-place award in the Quality Initiatives category for the poster, Nurse Navigated Approach to Lung Cancer Screening and Prevention in Nova Scotia. This poster explains how registered nurses guide Nova Scotians who are at high risk for lung cancer through the Lung Screening Program – beginning with a clinical assessment to determine level of risk, providing education about lung health and tobacco cessation, providing information and arranging CT scans for those determined to be at high risk for the disease who choose to have one, and providing results, coordinating follow-up testing – if needed and next steps.
Sarah Lace, a Registered Nurse and clinical nurse educator with Cancer Care at South Shore Regional Hospital and Valley Regional Hospital, received the Marie Marques Memorial Scholarship, which provides funding for an applicant to achieve specialty certification in oncology nursing. In her current role, Sarah provides education to staff about new therapies/treatments. She supports new staff in obtaining Chemo Certification to administer systemic therapy safely.
“I found my passion for oncology nursing in 2018,” said Lace. “I am dedicated to patient and staff safety. I work with our interdisciplinary teams to ensure we are all practicing safely to administer medications to cancer patients. I look forward to completing a CNA certification in Oncology.”
Cancer care leaders congratulate these nurses and extend thanks to all Nova Scotia Health oncology nurses for their contributions to the profession and for the excellent care they provide to their patients.