Page 102 - APPENDIX B: Trials Investigating the Management of Acute Radiation-Induced Skin Reactions Reading Qualitative Research

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WOUND CARE

Three of the interview and expert consult participants were members of a group of

Radiation Therapy Nurses networking across Canada through ‘virtual community’ such as the

Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) Radiation Therapy Special Interest Group

(RT-SIG) in order to pursue mutual interests or goals. The CANO-RT SIG Position Statement,

“The majority of patients now are treated in the outpatient setting resulting in an ongoing need

for direct patient care, close monitoring, and teaching of self-management strategies” (Canadian

Association of Nurses in Oncology, 2013). Such networking depicts having a passion for the

job. The forum is a resource for nurses who have a passion for their role and wish to advance the

scope of the radiation oncology nurse.

Another prerequisite is self-knowledge. Bean and Holcombe (1993) theorize, “The

development of specialized fields within oncology nursing with divergent activities and

relationships allow for the accommodation of different personality characteristics, thereby

increasing role satisfaction and effectiveness” (p. 479). The national environmental scan survey

revealed that 61% respondents had more than 10 years of experience in oncology. Reflecting on

staffing retention and findings from the qualitative interviews in relation to nursing autonomy,

clinical decision-making and hierarchy in model of care takes one back into the context of

nursing work environment and inter-professional practice, the focus of the next section.

Care environments. Work environments that are structurally empowering with a

commitment to shared governance enhance mutual respect, communication, trust, information

sharing and inclusive clinical decision-making, which in turn empowers nurses to hold their

voice in an inter-professional work setting (Moore & Hutchison, 2007, p. 565). The findings

from the qualitative interview suggested that in the clinical setting staff nurses did not hold their

voices, while APNs typically did. It is possible that if RTNs had or exercised more voice, then