DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has welcomed the first cohort of locally-trained Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS), who will work alongside multi-disciplinary cancer teams to provide individualised care and dedicated support to cancer patients at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR).
The six newly-trained CNSs have recently graduated from a master’s in nursing degree program, focused on oncology nursing. The program, which was jointly developed in partnership by HMC and the University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ), aims to equip nurses with the required skills to contribute to evidence-based, high quality cancer care. The new CNSs will be supporting patients with gastro-intestinal (GI) or breast cancer and also those with pain and palliative care needs.
The cancer journey is complex and often confusing, especially for newly affected patients. It involves care interventions from various multi-site professionals such as oncologists, surgeons and counselors. However, the CNSs provide and reinforce relevant information and appropriate liaison with other professionals to improve the cancer care process for patients.
Coupled with the support that nurses provide to patients, clinical nurse specialists are more highly trained to become experts at diagnosing and treating illnesses in their area of expertise. Along with providing patients and families support, they also are experts in nurse management and administration. Nurses can also benefit from the CNS’s expertise and seek their guidance to improve patients’ health outcomes and the overall efficiency in the hospital setting. CNSs also continually engage in high-quality research, looking at new evidence-based treatments and interventions.
THE PENINSULA
