Nurses

“Nursing encompasses an art, a humanistic orientation, a feeling for the value of the individual, and an intuitive sense of ethics, and of the appropriateness of action taken”

~ Murtle Aydelotte, 1992

Nurses are a valued part of the multi-disciplinary team at LRCP, London Health Sciences Center (LHSC). Caring is the essence of healthier healing, and the nurses at the LRCP are at the heart of it.

Over 130 nurses work in a variety of roles between the inpatient and outpatient areas at LRCP. Their educational backgrounds range from APN, RN, BScN, MN to NP. Over thirty of these nurses have obtained specialty certification in Oncology, through the Canadian Nurses Association.

Nurses provide holistic Patient-Centered care in the Adult Oncology inpatient area, Stretcher Bay, Telephone Triage, Patient Review, Clinics and the Chemotherapy Suite, Supportive care and Operating room. Their expertise in oncology nursing guides them in their nursing assessments, direct patient care, telephone consultations, patient education, supportive care, palliation, assistance with medical procedures and pain and symptom management.

Advanced Practice Nurses

Clinic Services

Inpatient Oncology

Radiation Treatment Delivery

Systemic Therapy- Chemotherapy Nurses

Advanced Practice Nurses (APN)

Advanced Practice Nurses have taken Master’s level training in nursing to receive APN designation. LRCP enjoys the expertise of many APNs in both the inpatient and outpatient clinics.

They work closely with LRCP physicians in specific disease site teams and are qualified, under medical directives, to order tests, procedures and some medications, as well as to read x-rays. Their assessment skills are acute and they do much of the preparatory work in the radiation and chemotherapy clinics.

Clinic Services - Primary Nurses

Located on LRCP Level 2 clinic services has four outpatient clinics where patients are seen in consultation for treatment and follow-up care. Approximately 30 nurses work in this area.

Patients see many members of their health care team during each visit. The team consists of oncologists, primary nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Associate Nurses, medical students, social workers, pain and symptom management team, spiritual care specialists and dietitians.

It is very important for nurses in clinic services to engage in educational experiences to enhance their knowledge as Oncology practices and treatments continue to advance.

Primary Nurses are a core component of patient care at the clinics. They see an average of 10 to 25 patients per day. Their knowledge encompasses many types of cancer and cancer therapies.

Primary nurses help coordinate all aspects of patient care. Nurses provide assessments, patient teaching, telephone consultations, alleviation of patient concerns, answers to patient’s questions, support, and advice and guidance to both patients and their families. Exceptional communication and time management skills allow them to adapt to a continuously changing and challenging environment at LRCP.

Stretcher Bay

Stretcher Bay is located on LRCP Level 2 at Victoria Hospital. 2-3 full-time Registered Nurses from Monday to Friday 8:00-4:30.

The number of patients seen in this area changes daily relative to patient’s needs in the clinic each day. Patients are often scheduled for medical procedures and tests, such as paracentesis and bone marrow aspirates, or to assess symptoms or problems they are experiencing. Patients coming to LRCP by ambulance are usually taken to stretcher bay to be monitored by the nurses.

Patients who are unwell or unable to sit for long periods of time must let the primary nurse know. The nurse will book a bed for them to rest in, while waiting for their appointment.

Because patients are often ill, nurses working in this area have proficient assessment skills. Many patients are neutropenic or present with oncologic emergencies. Nurses ensure patients are cared for on a priority basis.

Telephone Triage Nurses

Telephone Triage is located on LRCP Level 2 and is staffed by two Registered Nurses, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A clerical support person assists them in answering over 100 phone calls per day.

Telephone Triage is a call center where nurses receive phone calls from patients or their families, community nurses and physicians about patients receiving care at LRCP. The majority of phone calls are related to symptom management, side effects of medications and treatments, oncologic emergencies, general concerns or questions and appointments.

Nurses respond to patient concerns through telephone assessment, offering recommendations for symptom management as well as patient teaching, based on protocols developed by Cancer Care Ontario.

Nurses working in Telephone Triage maintain close partnerships with nurses and physicians within the outpatient and chemotherapy clinics. If the telephone triage nurse cannot answer a question she will talk to the primary nurse or doctor. The call is usually returned in 24-48 hours, depending on its urgency.

Excellent assessment skills are essential in this department as patients are continuously assessed without a visual guide, only via the telephone.

Inpatient Oncology Nurses

The Adult Oncology Inpatient unit is located on the 7th floor of Zone C at the Victoria Hospital site of the London Health Sciences Center. The unit is further subdivided into four wings -100, 200, 300 and 400 - where patients with many different types of cancer receive care.

Treatment regimens include stem cell transplants, chemotherapy, radiation and symptom management.

Although the unit is physically separate from the outpatient clinic, it is a partner with LRCP, providing seamless care to patients across their cancer experience.

Patients may be admitted to the inpatient unit for the following: some cancer treatments, treatment related to complications or oncologic emergencies, symptom management and/or palliation. Their stay may range from one night to the full duration of their treatment and recovery. Nurses work collaboratively, on multi-disciplinary teams, to care for patients.

Inpatient nurses obtain special training and education in chemotherapy administration and radiation therapy, radiopharmaceuticals and symptom management. The Total Patient Care Model guides their practice with one nurse providing all direct care for the patient each shift.

Radiation Treatment Delivery Operating Room

The LRCP Operating Room Suite is located on LRCP Level 1 at Victoria Hospital. Two full-time Registered Nurses staff the suite during the day, Monday to Friday.

The patient load varies daily due to patients being scheduled for various inpatient and outpatient procedures, such as brachytherapy, gold seeding, and various internal radiation implants.

The nurses in this area work on multidisciplinary teams consisting of Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Therapists, Anesthesiologists and Dosimetrists.

Nurses provide care and comfort for patients. They also teach them how to prepare for the operating room where their procedure takes place. They have acquired these skills through additional education. Expertise in comfort measures, reassurance and communication are essential skills for nurses working in LRCP’s operating room area.

Patient Review

Patient Review is an outpatient clinic at LRCP. Patients undergoing radiation treatment come in weekly for check-ups during their treatment.

Close relationships between the Radiation Oncologists, Nurses, Physicists and Radiation Therapists aid in open communication between the areas of Patient Review, CT-SIM, Radiation Treatment Units, Brachytherapy Unit and operating room to allow for patient-centered care.

Two to three nurses work in Patient Review seeing approximately 45 patients a day. They complete health assessments, assist patients in managing their radiation therapy side effects, address patient concerns, educate regarding potential side effects of therapy and offer advice to prevent complications during the course of radiation treatment.

They refer patients to CCAC, Social Work, and dietitians as needed.

Nurses working in Patient Review engage in many on-site educational experiences such as, attending Grand Rounds on topics relevant to the Oncology profession, participating in in-services offered at LRCP as well as engaging in research studies to advance their practice and knowledge.

Systemic Therapy- Chemotherapy Nurses

The Systemic Therapy Suite, more commonly called the Chemotherapy Suite is located on the second floor of the London Regional Cancer Centre. Twenty-five Registered Nurses work in this area and are supported by clerical staff that are involved in registering patients, and booking tests and appointments. On average 100 patients come to the chemotherapy suite on a daily basis to receive their chemotherapy, other treatment related medications, blood transfusions, and care of central lines.

Nurses working in the chemotherapy suite receive extensive additional training and testing in chemotherapy administration, managing side effects, and safety associated with handling chemotherapy agents. Chemotherapy nurses have extensive knowledge of chemotherapy drugs and regimes for most cancers and are also are very knowledgeable about newer chemotherapy agents that they administer and monitor, that are used in clinical trials. Nurses in the chemotherapy suite are very involved in assessment and providing support and education to patients and their families regarding chemotherapy, safety and side effects.

Teamwork is essential for nurses who work in this fast past environment.

Nurses are members of a range of professional groups, such as:

London Oncology Nurses Interest Group
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)
Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology
Oncology Nursing Society (United States)
Ontario Nurses Association

Additional Resources for Registered Nurses

LRCP nurses provide clinical placements for students of the Faculty of Nursing at The University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College.

LRCP nurses also provide continuing education for nurses practicing in London and Southwestern Ontario through placement within the Chemotherapy Delivery Unit, as faculty for the LRCP S.C.O.P.E. program, as well as through speaking engagements in the community.

Our Research Partners include:

Robarts Research Institute

Canadian Surgical Technologies & Advanced Robotics - (CSTAR)

Our Local Educational Partners include:

The University of Western Ontario

Fanshawe College

For a comprehensive list of Nursing Schools in Ontario, click on Nursing Education Links

For further information about nursing at LHSC click here.

Links to Professional Associations:

ASPAN - Ambulatory Surgery, Preanesthesia and Postanesthesia Care

Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses

Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses