Cancer nursing skills to benefit local patients

Carolyn Janes, of Toowoomba, has gained new skills to support cancer patients by completing a three day ‘Introduction to Cancer Care’ course, run by Cancer Council Queensland in Brisbane this week.

Ms Janes, a health worker at St Vincent’s Hospital, was awarded a scholarship worth $1,500, enabling her to attend the course to advance her cancer care skills.

The scholarship covers all course costs, including study materials and regional participants are provided with travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Health Professional Education Co-ordinator at Cancer Council Queensland, Sheila Deuchars, says the ‘Introduction to Cancer Care’ courses enable health workers who care for people with cancer to maximise their skills and improve their specific knowledge of cancer, so their patients receive the best possible care, attention and support.

Health care workers attended the course from across Queensland and return to their workplace and community with a wider knowledge of the treatments, side effects and support services available for people who are affected by cancer,” she said.

Participants networked with other cancer care health workers and cancer nursing specialists who share their expertise with course participants. This results in positive impacts for attendees, their patients and the families they care for.”

The course was sponsored by ESA International who will sponsor two additional courses offered by Cancer Council Queensland in 2009.

Cancer Council Queensland offers this course to assistants in nursing, undergraduate students, personal care assistants and home care workers who care for cancer patients in Queensland.

Other cancer care courses are offered to Registered and Enrolled nurses throughout the year on specific cancers like bowel, breast and prostate cancer.