Creating and Implementing Oncology-Focused Onboarding Program for New Clinical Staff to Improve Oncology Knowledge and Confidence

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, yet there is little focus on oncology topics in nursing programs. Staffing shortages and the cancelations of classes during COVID exacerbated the lack of oncology preparation for clinical staff. A needs assessment was performed on newly hired clinical staff in an academic oncology hospital which identified numerous educational gaps in the field of oncology. Purpose: Our purpose was to create a standardized program that would give all clinical staff the same foundational oncology understanding and create a unified high standard of care for oncology patients in our institution. Interventions: We collaborated with hospital administration and clinical managers to set expectations of learning and time commitment for learners. We met with new clinical staff to identify knowledge gaps. We reviewed incident reports to determine areas which needed further education. We worked together to incorporate the above finding and ONS criteria to develop a week-long foundation oncology course with generalized oncology information, role specific training, and unit specific education. Evaluation: Prior to the oncology course, clinical staff did not feel confident in caring for the unique needs of oncology patients. Pre and post assessments were given to staff to identify if the interventions were effective. Pre and post assessments indicated statistically significant results in increasing participant's confidence and knowledge in caring for oncology patients. Discussion: As the data indicates, it was necessary to provide a foundation of oncology education for clinical staff to provide knowledge and confidence to care for the complex needs of an oncology patient. When provided oncology-focused educational opportunities staff felt better prepared to give high quality care to our patients. In empirical data received, learners expressed appreciation for the foundational learning opportunity. Managers stated they felt their new employees were more prepared in oncology care. To evaluate future impact, we would like to analyze how this course affects patient outcomes and staff retention.