‘I know the difference it has made in people’s lives’: Perceptions of Rural South Australian Nurses Extending Their Role to Administer Chemotherapy.
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Date
2014
Authors
Alnasser, Qasem
Editors
Advisors
Cameron, Kate
Prouse, Janette
Prouse, Janette
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Abstract
Nurses in rural Australia are currently administering chemotherapy in centres where this was not previously the case. This has resulted from an Australian Government and metropolitan residents in Australia. One initiative has been education of rural health care professionals who work with cancer patients. In South Australia (SA) a State-wide Chemotherapy Education and Assessment Program was implemented using the Antineoplastic Drug Administration Course (ADAC) developed by the Cancer Institute of New South Wales (NSW). This research project explored the perceptions of nurses working in level-one rural centres administering low risk chemotherapy protocols in SA. Critical social theory was used to explore the hidden constraints, conscientize and empower participants. Through individual interviews a dialectic process was developed to collect the data from eight participants who were rural registered nurses working in low risk chemotherapy centres. The data analysis revealed four main categories of findings. These were; 1) role extension, preparedness and self-confidence; 2) chemotherapy services in rural areas; 3) power relationship, referrals and sustainability; and 4) communication with other cancer settings and professionals. These four categories represent the participants’ perceptions of their role and the provision of chemotherapy services in rural areas. Participants valued the service highly but identified areas that they find problematic including maintenance of knowledge and skills. It was also perceived that rural nurses do not have input into the referral process and fear that the service is being underutilised due to low referral rates from metropolitan centres. Based on the findings, literature review and current knowledge of cancer education some recommendations were suggested. These recommendations included, developing an education module for rural cancer chemotherapy practice, implementation of an annual re-credential course and clinical rotation to a higher chemotherapy administration service, a more explicit patient referral process would help to identify patients eligible for chemotherapy treatment in low risk centres, upgrade of centres to enable them to manage medium risk level treatments would increase the volume and familiarity of nurses administering treatments, and lastly, use of telehealth communication for education and communication.
School/Discipline
School of Nursing
Dissertation Note
Thesis (M.Nurs.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Nursing, 2014
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