| Sumario: | The trend in staffing shortages coupled with an aging and growing population pose a particularly difficult problem for areas within nursing that serve older patients and require specialized skills and experience.Since cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death and tends to affect older patients, oncology nursing may be more vulnerable to these professional and demographic trends than other areas of nursing.Using survey instruments, the authors gathered data from oncology nurses, oncologists, and nursing executives from cancer facilities regarding their perceptions of staffing adequacy, the influence of different venues of cancer care on these perceptions, and the implications for building the future workforce.The surveys revealed that 59% to 65% of oncology RNs and MDs perceived staffing as inadequate and nearly 80% of RNs cited difficulty retaining experienced staff.Nurse executives cited a lack of qualified applicants as a major barrier to filling vacant positions.
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