Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Role of the Specialist Nurse in Gynaecological Cancer

  • Gynecologic Cancers (NS Reed, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To explore the role of the specialist nurse within gynaecological cancer.

Recent Findings

There are many different job titles associated with the role of the specialist nurse. Nursing roles are evolving not only to meet the increasing demands on services but also within the ever changing landscape of cancer treatments and improvement in survival. Women and their families need specialist nurses to guide and support them on their cancer journey, along the treatment trajectory and into survivorship.

Summary

This paper explores specialist nurse roles generally, and within our service which have been adapted to meet service and patient needs within a gynaecological cancer centre. Irrelevant of title, specialist nurses are best suited to meet the patients’ needs. The fundamental ethos of the care should always remain having the patients’ best interest at heart, acting as their advocate - in essence giving them a voice when they need it.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

  1. World Health Organisation. International Agency for Research on Cancer. globocan. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Default.aspx [Accessed 10th May 2018.]

  2. ESMO. ESMO clinical Practice Guidelines: gynaecological cancers. ESMO. Available from: http://www.esmo.org/Guidelines/Gynaecological-Cancers. [Accessed 10th May 2018.]

  3. BGCS. BGCS: Guidelines. British Gynaecologic Cancer Society. Available from: http://www.esmo.org/Guidelines/Gynaecological-Cancers. [Accessed 10th May 2018.]

  4. Maguire R, Kotronoulas G, Simpson M, Paterson C. A systematic review of the supportive care needs of women living with and beyond cervical cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2015;136(3):478–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Beesley VL, Alemayehu C, Webb PM. A systematic literature review of the prevalence of and risk factors for supportive care needs among women with gynaecological cancer and their caregivers. Support Care Cancer 2017 4:1–0.

  6. • Cook O, McIntyre M, Recoche K, Lee S. Experiences of gynecological cancer patients receiving care from specialist nurses: a qualitative systematic review. JBI Database Syst Rev Implement Rep. 2017;15(8):2087–112. This study synthesises evidence of women’s experiences from receiving care from specialist nurses highlighting need for tailored, accessible care from a dependable expert. The essence of the value of the specialist nurse is highlighted and the importance of the role within gynaeoncology.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Appleby J, Galea A, Murray R. The NHS productivity challenge. Experience from the front line. London: The King’s Fund; 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Keogh B. Review into the quality of care and treatment provided by 14 hospital trusts in England. London: NHS England; 2013.

    Google Scholar 

  9. National Cancer Action Team. Quality in nursing. Excellence in cancer care: the contribution of the clinical nurse specialist. London: DH; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Independent Cancer Taskforce. Achieving world class cancer outcomes: a strategy for England 2015-2020.2015.

  11. Leary A, Mak V, Trevatt P. The variance in distribution of cancer nurse specialists in England. Br J Nurs. 2011;20(4):228–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. • Kobleder A, Mayer H, Gehrig L, Senn B. “Promoting continuity of care”–Specialist nurses’ role experiences in gynaecological oncology. A qualitative study. J Clin Nurs. 2017; This paper explores the actual and aspired roles of the specialist nurse, highlights the improtance of developing and extending roles within appropriate clarity to deliver care in developing services.

  13. Cook O, McIntyre M, Recoche K. Exploration of the role of specialist nurses in the care of women with gynaecological cancer: a systematic review. J Clin Nurs. 2015;24(5–6):683–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. • NHS England. Implementing the Cancer Taskforce Recommendations: Commissioning person centred care for people affected by cancer. London: NHS England; 2016. Although not a research paper this government document outlines the care that patients with cancer are entiltled to and acts as a guide to develop a framework to deliver that care.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Monterosso L, Violet Platt RN, Meinir Krishnasamy BA, Yates P, Caroline Bulsara BA. The cancer nurse coordinator service in Western Australia: perspectives of specialist cancer nurse coordinators. Aust J Adv Nurs. 2016;34(2):16.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Macmillan Cancer Support. Macmillan impact briefs. Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist. 2014.

  17. Mishelmovich N, Arber A, Odelius A. Breaking significant news: the experience of clinical nurse specialists in cancer and palliative care. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2016;21:153–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Thygesen MK, Pedersen BD, Kragstrup J, Wagner L, Mogensen O. Gynecological cancer patients’ differentiated use of help from a nurse navigator: a qualitative study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2012;12(1):168.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Grob S, Bläuer C, Frei IA. Women’s experiences of nurse case management on a gynaecological oncology unit in a Swiss tertiary hospital. A thematic analysis. Scand J Caring Sci. 2017;1

  20. Macmillan Cancer Support. Guidance on long term consequences of treatment for gynaecological cancer. London: Macmillan Cancer Support; 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  21. National Cancer Survivorship Initiative. The recovery package. 2014.

  22. Dahl L, Wittrup I, Petersen LK, Blaakaer J, Væggemose U. Paradoxes of follow-up–health professionals’ views on follow-up after surgical treatment in gynecological cancer. Acta Oncol. 2015;54(2):194–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lanceley A, Berzuini C, Burnell M, Gessler S, Morris S, Ryan A, et al. Ovarian cancer follow-up: a preliminary comparison of 2 approaches. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2017;27(1):59–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Leeson S, Stuart N, Sylvestre Y, Hall L, Whitaker R. Gynaecological cancer follow-up: national survey of current practice in the UK. BMJ Open. 2013;3(7):e002859.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Kentwell M, Dow E, Antill Y, Wrede CD, McNally O, Higgs E, et al. Mainstreaming cancer genetics: a model integrating germline BRCA testing into routine ovarian cancer clinics. Gynecol Oncol. 2017;145(1):130–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Percival N, George A, Gyertson J, Hamill M, Fernandes A, Davies E, et al. The integration of BRCA testing into oncology clinics. Br J Nurs. 2016;25(12):690–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Cancer Research UK. Cervical Cancer Statistics. Cancer Research UK. Available from: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/cervical-cancer. [Accessed 10th May 2018.]

  28. Smith T. Colposcopy. Nursing Standard (through 2013). 2000;15(4):47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Todd RW, Wilson S, Etherington I, Luesley D. Effect of nurse colposcopists on a hospital-based service. Hosp Med. 2002;63(4):218–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Coombes R. Dr Nurse will see you now. BMJ. 2008;337

  31. BSCCP. NHSCSP Colposcopy and Programme Management. NHSCSP Publication number 20. 3rd Edition. 2016.

  32. Swancutt DR, Greenfield SM, Wilson S. Women’s colposcopy experience and preferences: a mixed methods study. BMC Womens Health. 2008;8(1):2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Davis R, Kotantji M, Vincent C. Patients prefer to challenge nurses rather than doctors on safety issues. BMJ. 2008;12(2)

  34. Nursing and Midwifery Council. The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses and midwives. London: NMC; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Williams S. Realising the benefits of the extended surgical team. The Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. 2016 Jul;98(7):321-.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. NHS Scotland. Advanced Nursing Practice Toolkit. Avaialble at: http://www.advancedpractice.scot.nhs.uk/definitions/specialist-and-advanced-practice.aspx. . [Accessed 16th December 2015.] 2012.

  37. Association, Canadian Nurses. Pan-Canadian core competencies for the clinical nurse specialist. Ottawa: Canadian Nurses Association; 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Begley C, Elliott N, Lalor J, Coyne I, Higgins A, Comiskey CM. Differences between clinical specialist and advanced practitioner clinical practice, leadership, and research roles, responsibilities, and perceived outcomes (the SCAPE study). J Adv Nurs. 2013;69(6):1323–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Department of Health. Advanced level nursing: a position statement. Leeds: Department of Health; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Health Education England. Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England. London: NHS England, 2017.

  41. Macmillan Cancer Support. Indicative role specification for a Macmillan Cancer Support Worker - care coordianation. 2011.

  42. Barber C. Role of care co-ordinators in cancer clinical nurse specialist teams. Cancer Nurs Pract (2014+). 2016;15(3):31–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK

    Lynn Buckley, Sarah Robertson, Tamara Wilson & Jean Sharpless

  2. Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK

    Sarah Bolton

Authors
  1. Lynn Buckley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sarah Robertson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tamara Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jean Sharpless
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sarah Bolton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lynn Buckley.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

Lynn Buckley, Sarah Robertson, Tamara Wilson, Jean Sharpless, and Sarah Bolton declare they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Gynecologic Cancers

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Buckley, L., Robertson, S., Wilson, T. et al. The Role of the Specialist Nurse in Gynaecological Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 20, 83 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-018-0734-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-018-0734-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation