Nursing

Report on the Role of the Nurse or Midwife in Medical-led Clinical Research (November 2008) NCI/All Ireland Cancer Nurses Working Group Work Plan (2007-2010) All-Ireland Practice and Quality Development Database Guide (March 2006) UICC Trish Greene International Cancer Nursing Training Workshop Irish Lung Cancer Nurses Group End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Oncology Nurses Worldwide Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Nursing Policy Division Newsletter Department of Health and Children Chief Nursing Officer Newsletter

The Consortium established the Nursing Working Group (NRS WG) to address the shortage of oncology-trained nurses on the island of Ireland. The NRS WG focuses on expanding educational opportunities for Irish and Northern Irish nurses and promoting nursing and palliative care activities on the island of Ireland. The NRS WG also represents the Consortium in numerous events, including international conferences, workshops, and meetings.

The NRS WG is comprised of oncology nurses from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and the U.S. Members are clinicians, nurse educators, and nurse managers.

The chief nursing officers of Ireland, Sheila O'Malley, and Northern Ireland, Martin Bradley, rotate chairmanship of the NRS WG on an annual basis. Martin Bradley serves as chair in 2009.

• To address the shortage of oncology-trained nurses on the island of Ireland.
• To focus on expanding educational opportunities for island nurses.
• To promote nursing and palliative care activities.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSES

Clinical Trials E-Learning Module

One of the primary objectives of the NRS WG is to identify methods of formal educational opportunities for clinical trial nurses on the island of Ireland. To this end, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland commissioned Queen's University Belfast to develop an e-learning module aimed to advance the skills, knowledge, and training of clinical research nurses. The module includes twelve weekly sessions, two of which are conducted face-to-face, and online interaction aimed to promote further learning and exchange of practice across the island of Ireland and the US. The module, which was made available for the first time in January 2007, provides an easily accessible training opportunity for clinical research nurses. All-Ireland participation has been facilitated with nurses attending from clinical research units in both the North and South.

The call for 2010 applications is now CLOSED. Click here for a detailed Fact Sheet on the January 2010 module.

NCI Clinical Training for Nurses

As part of its initiative to enhance clinical trial development on the island of Ireland, the Consortium has instituted a clinical trials training program with the NCI. Eighteen Irish nurses have completed the training to date. For more information please visit NCI Clinical Trials Training for Nurses.

NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention

The NCI has worked with the Consortium to make this training program available to health professionals from Ireland and Northern Ireland. For more information and to apply, go to NCI Summer Curriculum in Cancer Prevention.

For more information on the Consortium’s involvement with palliative care, click here.

For Palliative Care Related Helpful Links by Jurisdiction, click here.