Deb Lewandowski, director of oncology services at Martin Memorial Health Systems, has seen much of her nursing staff change faster than Superman in a phone booth.
In the past four years, the turnover rate on the oncology unit at Martin Memorial has ranged from 18 to 39 percent. But Martin Memorial isnt the only provider thats feeling the effects of high turnover in oncology nursing. Research indicates turnover rates on a national level average 22 percent on acute-care oncology floors.
Part of the problem, Lewandowski said, is that nurses arent trained specifically for oncology care.
“New nurses entering the workforce dont have the experience or skills to deliver strong cancer care,” Lewandowski said. “And because there are high turnover rates, that leaves new nurses and those nurses who do have experience to care for more patients. That leads to compassion fatigue, burnout and higher turnover.”
To combat that trend, Lewandowski partnered with Martin Memorials education department to develop an oncology residency program. It is designed to develop, support and enhance the knowledge base of oncology nurses in an acute-care setting.
The year-long program, which started in January 2008, is facilitated by George Anderson, who has been a nurse for more than 25 years. The initial program will be provided for 10 of the 25 oncology nurses on staff, targeting those who are within their first year of hire.
A skills assessment is performed prior to the program, followed by classroom sessions, interactive Web-based programs, rounding and visits by guest speakers. The material is designed to improve the nurses knowledge of oncology care, as well as processes specific to Martin Memorial.
Eventually, nurses in the program will have an opportunity to visit the Moffitt Cancer Center which Martin Memorial is affiliated with to learn specialized aspects of oncology care.
“Our goal is to grow and retain our own oncology nurses,” Lewandowski said. “Cancer is growing in the United States. More people are going to get cancer and we need people who are going to be able to take care of them.”
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