Course SyllabusOncology Nursing

Required readings

Optional readings

Peer Activities

Quizzes

Pre-Test

Assignments

Discussions

Peer Corner

Questionnare

How to create an account and enroll in the course?

Required readings

Optional readings

Peer Activities

Quizzes

Assignments

Discussions

Questionnare

Oncology Nurse Homepage

DISCLAIMER: This content is designed to enhance the study of nursing. This content is generic and is not designed to take into account the specific objectives, needs, and/or circumstances of any particular region or country. To become a nurse, learners must successfully complete a program of study approved by the government or state-regulatory agency in their place of residence. We cannot guarantee that the successful completion of these materials will enable you to practice in your place of residence. Make sure that you are in compliance with the scope of practice of your regulatory body before attempting to put into use or practice any of the knowledge gained.

Introduction

This Oncology Nursing Course is designed to provide the learner with an understanding of cancer in the local, regional and global context and the need for nurses with specialized knowledge, skills, and attitudes to provide safe, competent, quality care to individuals.

The four (4) modules are designed to help nurses:

Deliver evidence-based information by enabling them to practice with accurate scientific knowledge, a solid nursing science foundation, excellent communication, and an understanding of the healthcare system for policy development as they work to prevent, identify, and treat patients with cancer.
Identify current treatments in interventional and pharmacological therapeutics with a focus on evidence-based holistic nursing care.
Place emphasis on the development of sound clinical judgment, critical thinking and collaborative care to achieve optimal outcomes for their patients.
Apply safeguards to support a safe practice environment for both patients and healthcare workers.

Approximate time for completion of this course is 157 hours at an average reading rate of 144 words/minute.

The Oncology Nursing course is sponsored by the Innovative Cancer Care Foundation (ICCF) and was developed in partnership with Nurses International (NI) and NextGenU.org (NGU). NextGenU.org courses are competency-based and use learning resources from accredited, world-class organizations such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization, and International Guidelines, Universities, and peer-reviewed Journals. The Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) is utilized for facilitating distance learning. The course was designed by NextGenU’s Instructional Design team and Nurses International’s team members with particular thanks to Kathleen Capone MS, RN CNE, EdD; Stacen Keating PhD, RN; Lillian A Donnelly RN, MSN, NPD-BC; Lori Kerley, DNP, MS, RN; Caitlin M. Cartmell, MFS, BSN, RN; and Jordan Wilson, MSN, RN-BC.

Engaging with this course

Nurse Educators may register to review all of the course content, and they may instruct students to register for this course by completing the registration form.
Nurse Educators may contact NextGenU.org and request to use the platform with their students for free using the contact form.
Begin the course with Module 1. For each lesson, read the description.
Each lesson comprises introductory remarks. You may click on the collections of resources in each section.
There is a final quiz to assess your understanding of important concepts. Click on the hyperlinks to take you to these items in each topic.
This content is designed to enhance the study of nursing. To become a nurse, learners must successfully complete a program of study approved by the government or state-regulatory agency in their place of residence.

Requirements to obtain the certificate

You may browse this course for free for your personal enrichment. There are no requirements.

To obtain a certificate, a learner must successfully complete:

all reading requirements
all lessons quizzes
all discussion forums
the final exam with a minimum of 80% and a maximum of 2 attempts and
the self and course evaluation forms

Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of future updates, new courses, and to be part of our community.

Required readings

Optional readings

Peer Activities

Quizzes

Assignments

Discussions

Questionnare

Module 1: The Science of Cancer

This module introduces the learner to the basic physiologic characteristics of cancer biology including epidemiology and pathology, symptoms and disease processes, staging and grading, and incidence. An explanation of primary and secondary cancer prevention and treatment options including radiation, surgery, and use of antineoplastic agents, targeted therapies, and stem cell translations are included. Safe handling of chemotherapy agents along with the nurse’s role in providing safe patient care is explained.
Required readings

Optional readings

Peer Activities

Quizzes

Assignments

Discussions

Questionnare

Module 1: Lesson 1: Cancer Biology

Student Learning Outcomes:

Describe the concepts of normal and cancer cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and regulatory mechanisms.
Define the characteristics of benign and malignant cells and tumors.
Recognize the genetic, immunological, and hormonal basis of cancer.
Describe processes of invasion and metastases.
List common classification systems for cancer.
Compare and contrast common methods for diagnosing, staging, and grading cancer.

Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute): 3 hours and 8 minutes.

How to create an account and enroll in the course?

Oncology Nurse Homepage

Module 1: The Science of Cancer

Module 1: Lesson 1: Cancer Biology

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 2: Cancer Treatment Planning

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 3: Surgery in Cancer Treatment

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 4: Radiotherapy in Cancer Treatment

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 5: Antineoplastic Agents in Cancer Treatment

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 6: Targeted Therapies in Cancer Treatment

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 7: Stem Cell Transplantation in Cancer Treatment

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Lesson 8: Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Nursing Care

Module 2: Lesson 1: Nursing Management of Tissue Integrity in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 2: Nursing Management of Nutrition in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 3: Nursing Management of Pain in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 4: Nursing Management of Fatigue and Weakness in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 5: Nursing Management of Self-esteem and Body Image Concerns in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 6: Nursing Management of Anemia in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 7: Nursing Management of Thrombocytopenia/Bleeding in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 8: Nursing Management of Neutropenia and Mouth/Throat Problems in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 9: Nursing Management of Extravasation and Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Patient

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 10: Patient Education

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 11: Supportive Care

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 12: Palliative Care

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 13: On Death and Dying

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 14: Grief and Bereavement

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 15: Nursing Ethics

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson: 16. Scope of Nursing Practice

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 17: Oncological emergencies - Cardiac Tamponade

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 18: Oncological emergencies_ Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 19: Oncological Emergencies_ Hypercalcemia of Malignancy

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 20: Oncologic Emergencies- Septic Shock

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module:2 Lesson : 21: Nursing Management of Oncological Emergencies- Spinal Cord Compression

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 22: Nursing Management of Oncological Emergencies- Increased Intracranial Pressure

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson: 23 Nursing Management of Oncological Emergencies-Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 24: Nursing Management of Oncological Emergencies-SIADH

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 2: Lesson 25: Oncological Emergency_ Tumor Lysis Syndrome

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module: 2: Lesson: 26 Nursing Management of Oncological Emergencies- Hemorrhagic Cystitis

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module: 2 Lesson: 27: Nursing Management of Oncological Emergencies- Anaphylaxis

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 3: Enablers and Traits

Module 3: Lesson 1: Effective Communication

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module 3: Lesson 2: Evidence Based Practice

Student Learning Outcomes:

Module: 3 Lesson 3: Change Management