| Sumario: | Significance & Background: More patients are now seeking care closer to home, identifying a need for Medical-Surgical nurses to be prepared to competently provide oncologic care in the inpatient setting. Our community cancer program launched an initial inpatient oncology education initiative in 2021. Since then, we have sustained our program, providing a safe, high-quality environment for cancer patients. Purpose: With the opening of the 8th hospital and cancer program in our system, we had the opportunity to collaborate with our sister program to identify best practices and lessons learned to expand our reach in providing high-quality care. Interventions: Oncology nurses from both campuses collaborated to discuss lessons learned, best practices and sustainability efforts with the launch of the new hospital's oncology service line. Prior to new hospital opening, oncology nurses led didactic education sessions focusing on care of the oncology patient, oncologic emergency identification, safe administration of chemotherapy, and Port-A-Cath management. Best practices identified from our program included requirement of a Chemotherapy Course developed with ONS guidelines and annual competency assessments. Lessons learned included a need to identify Medical-Surgical nurses to serve as Campus Champions for sustainability. Currently, the new hospital site has trained 20 Medical-Surgical nurses, deeming them clinically competent to care for the oncology patient, identify oncological emergencies, and administer chemotherapy. Medical-Surgical nurses have been identified as Campus Champions to undergo regular competency assessment to maintain skill and serve as a unit resource when inpatient care is required. Results: Our campus continues to sustain this Oncology-led initiative with 25 Medical-Surgical nurses trained in safe administration of chemotherapy. These nurses undergo annual competency check-offs to maintain skills. Sustainability efforts also include implementation of one dedicated Campus Champion for inpatient education support. The new campus has trained 20 Medical-Surgical nurses towards comprehensive oncology competency. Annual competency assessments will be implemented; and a cohort of Medical-Surgical nurses have been identified as Campus Champions to serve the oncology population and bridge the gap between the inpatient and outpatient setting. To date, both campuses have had zero documented patient safety events related to chemotherapy administration in the inpatient setting. Discussion: Our collaboration, focus on best practices, and lessons learned has led to successful implementation and sustainment of oncology initiatives geared specifically to Medical-Surgical nurses. Future implications include consideration for a system-wide approach to best serve the oncology population.
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