Nursing Division

Introduction

In recent years, there has been a need for administering medical treatment to cancer patients not only in hospitals but also in their homes, which serve as places for recuperation. Therefore, the focus of cancer treatment is shifting from inpatient to visitor unit. The nursing division began leaving hospital adjustment and support service this year.
Major initiatives by the nursing division include open-ended educational seminars for improving the quality of cancer nursing provided by nurses in home-visit nursing care stations. Nurses of National Cancer Centers and National Hospital Organization also attended seminars to improve communication skills.
In November, a “Consultation service for cancer patients and families” was started to enable cancer patients to consult clinicians about their treatments, physical problems, and various other problems; this facility was organized by former MSW, nurses, pharmacists, and dietitians. To focus on the distinctive nature of cancer nursing and to improve the quality of cancer nursing care at the National Cancer Center Hospital East (NCCHE), we adopted the following plan in 2007.

To shine with learning and act full of life ・Vision

1． To provide high quality nursing, design career up as expert nurses
2． To contribute to the establishment of administrative bases and improve working conditions

・Strategy

1. Improve the work of nursing
2. Support nurses to career up

・Action plan

1. Complete the education system of inside the our hospital and outside and build up to support
2. Promote team medical
3. Efficient management of sickbed patients
4. Step up learning and proper management of consultation, reward, and commodity management

Routine Activities

In 2007, 48 nurses were newly employed. There are currently 260 nurses at our hospital.
The average number of outpatients per day is 631. The average number of inpatients per day is 354.6. The average number of hospital days has decreased to 15 because new chemotherapy regimens have enabled medical treatment to be administered at home. The number of operations in 2007 was 2498.
The nursing division aims to improve nurse education. Four courses have been initiated at the hospital. They comprise an introductory course for new employees, a practical course for 2nd and 3rd year newcomers, a specialized cancer nursing course, and a management course. As part of the overseas training program, 1 nurse was trained for 4 weeks at the Mayo clinic in the U.S.A.
There are 11 Certified Expert Nurses who specialize in wound/ostomy/continence (WOC) care (3), cancer pain (4), palliative care (1), cancer chemotherapy (2), and infection control (1). Further, there is 1 oncology certified nurse specialist. The Certified Expert Nurses who specialize in cancer pain and cancer chemotherapy attend patient consultations once a week; they act as a link between cancer patients and their families. We also invite trainee nurses from other hospitals. Currently, these nurses comprise 4 WOC nurses, 3 cancer pain nurses, and 1 postgraduate nurse.
We have recently begun internships for nursing college students.

● Y. Hisabe ●

Number of nursing training participants
  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Nurse training 1) 3 3 3 3  
Nurse teaching 1) 2) 9 5 2 6 6
Supervisor 1) 2 1 2 0 0
Nursing management training 1) 1 0 1 2 1
Overseas nursing training 3) 1 1 0 2 1
Total 16 10 8 13 8
Note: 1) Organized by Ministry of Health and Welfare; 2) Organized by Chiba prefecture; 3) Nursing training at Mayo clinic, USA

Number of nurses that visited the NCCHE
  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Palliative care unit 18 6 6 2 6
General facilities 7 11 11 11 11
Total 25 17 17 13 17
( ): Nurses from foreign countries

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