The burden of cancer in Texas is great and will only increase in future years. The American Cancer Society (2012) estimated that there would be 110,470 new cancer diagnoses in Texas in 2011. Age is the primary risk factor for cancer; by the year 2018 it is estimated that 22.7% of Texas residents will be 55 years of age or older – the age group in which nearly 77% of all cancer cases are detected. Recent estimates of survivorship project that there will be nearly 19 million cancer survivors in the United States by 2020.

Nurses play a key role in health care delivery and are critical mem...

Read More

The burden of cancer in Texas is great and will only increase in future years. The American Cancer Society (2012) estimated that there would be 110,470 new cancer diagnoses in Texas in 2011. Age is the primary risk factor for cancer; by the year 2018 it is estimated that 22.7% of Texas residents will be 55 years of age or older – the age group in which nearly 77% of all cancer cases are detected. Recent estimates of survivorship project that there will be nearly 19 million cancer survivors in the United States by 2020.

Nurses play a key role in health care delivery and are critical members of the oncology care system. These facts are ample evidence that Texas needs a nursing workforce that is prepared to provide the highest quality cancer care. The Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) designation is the recognized standard of excellence in cancer care. The impact of this and other certifications on patient outcomes is well documented and certification is valued by hospital accrediting organizations such as the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

Coleman writes that the OCN designation “promotes positive outcomes in symptom management, quality of life, patient and family satisfaction, and cost of care” and reports that OCN-credentialed nurses have been found to be more knowledgeable about evidence-based cancer care guidelines as well to implement those guidelines more frequently than their non-OCN counterparts. A study conducted of certified nurses in a variety of disciplines found that positive outcomes for patients include fewer adverse events in patient care, higher patient satisfaction, fewer disciplinary events, and more effective communication and collaboration. Yet of the over 300,000 nurses in Texas, only 1,800 – less than one percent – hold this certification.

In order to meet the need for accessible OCN test review preparation resources for Texas nurses, NOEP proposes to develop a series of 8 – 10 online continuing nursing education (CNE) slidecast-webinars covering content areas from the OCN examination; to present eight face-to-face presentations of this material, three of which will be held in areas that are underserved medically where this training is unavailable; and to convene four live webinar Q&A sessions to assist nurses preparing for the exam. The estimated number of nurses to be educated by this project is 11,290. By increasing the number of OCN certified nurses in Texas, these goals, objectives and activities directly support Goal 13 of the Texas Cancer Plan, “Develop or strengthen the infrastructure supporting the delivery of the most appropriate cancer prevention and care services”. It is consistent with strategic actions in Goal 11 related to promoting quality standards of patient care and in Goal 12 related to promoting quality standards of survivor care.

Read Less