A sustainable model for pediatric oncology nursing education in low-income countries

• Published in: Pediatric blood & cancer Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 163 - 166
• Main Authors: Day, Sara W., Garcia, Jose, Antillon, Federico, Wilimas, Judith A., McKeon, Leslie M., Carty, Rita M., de Alarcon, Pedro, Pui, Ching-Hon, Ribeiro, Raul C., Howard, Scott C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-02-2012
• Subjects: chemotherapy; Child; Competency-Based Education; Education, Nursing, Continuing - economics; Faculty, Nursing; Humans; Models, Nursing; Oncology Nursing - education; outcomes research; Pediatric Nursing - education; pediatric oncology; Program Evaluation
• ISSN: 1545-5009; 1545-5017
• DOI: 10.1002/pbc.24007

Effectiveness of a nurse educator in the pediatric oncology unit in Guatemala was assessed by measuring completion of an education course, chemotherapy and central line competency, continuing education, and cost. All newly hired nurses completed the education course. Of the nurses employed, 86% participated in the chemotherapy course, and 93% achieved competency; 57% participated in the central line course, and 79% achieved competency. The nurses completed a mean of 26 hours continuing education yearly. The annual direct cost of the educator ($244/nurse) was markedly less than other models. This is an effective and sustainable means to educate nurses in low‐income countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 163–166. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.