Digital learning toolkit launched to strengthen nurses cancer care competencies

As demographic change and improving cancer survival rates increase the demand for cancer-related care, competencies in oncology are becoming essential for nurses across all areas of practice. A fundamental understanding of the entire cancer care journey is therefore vital for every nurse. The new digital learning resource offers nursing educators free access to evidence-based materials that support the teaching of high-quality, person-centred cancer care throughout the care continuum.

Cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide.  Cancer patients are also treated outside of specialised medical care. This means all nurses need basic competences in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, supportive care and communication skills.

Evidence-based learning resource for cancer nursing education

“Cancer care is part of every nurse’s work, regardless of the clinical setting”, explains project manager Isa Öhberg from Turku University of Applied Sciences.

All nurses need basic competences in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, supportive care and communication skills.

EduCanNURS -Toolkit is a digital learning environment on the Thinglink platform, created for teaching cancer nursing to undergraduate nurses.  

“Through EduCanNURS, we have created accessible and evidence-based learning resources that help nursing students develop the competencies needed to provide high-quality care throughout the cancer care continuum”, Öhberg says.

Examples of content from the toolkit. On the left is a view of the front page; on the right is an example of an illustration for a patient case. The images were created using artificial intelligence.

From prevention to palliative care

The toolkit includes material for different patient cases on the eight most common types of cancer in Europe and the cancer treatment continuum. The continuum includes cancer prevention, cancer diagnosis, cancer treatment, supportive care and coping, rehabilitation and self-care, and palliative care.

Supporting educators across nursing curricula

For the educators the platform offers access to evidence-based teaching materials (e.g. videos, posters, slides), learning assignments and assessment tools to support their teaching. It can also be used by teachers who do not have expertise in cancer nursing, and thus the teaching of cancer nursing can be expanded to the different stages of the curriculum.

Examples of the cancer care continuum phases in the toolkit. Images are AI generated.

International Cooperation

Together the EduCanNURS project partners from Finland, Ireland and Croatia analysed existing nursing curricula and cancer care education in the participating universities and conducted a literature review.  

Based on the learnings, evidence-based educational content and a training module was created covering the entire cancer care continuum. A pilot module was tested with the participating partners, students and teachers. Based on the user feedback, the learning materials and teaching approaches were further evaluated and developed to best support the learning and teaching experiences.

“International collaboration allows us to share expertise, compare educational practices and develop innovative learning solutions together. EduCanNURS strengthens nursing students’ readiness to care for people affected by cancer in a rapidly changing healthcare environment”, comments content expert Maura Dowling from the University of Galway.

“By developing common resources and recommendations, we contribute to more consistent and high-quality cancer care education across Europe”, continues Silvija Piškorjanac from the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek.

Main image: Adobe Stock

More Information

Funded by the European Union’s programme Erasmus+. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Finnish National Agency for Education. Neither the European Union nor the EDUFI can be held responsible for them.