Spotlight: Recognizing the Contribution of de Souza Chemotherapy Regional Facilitators

Every year, hundreds of nurses across Canada participate in the de Souza Provincial Standardized Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course to enhance their knowledge and practice in chemotherapy and biotherapy administration. What makes this course unique is the up-to-date interactive online learning, a direct link to provincial and national chemotherapy practice guidelines, and an in-person workshop on knowledge application.

The workshop is an integral part of the course. The content is standardized yet contextualized to ensure that the learning is relevant to local practice. Nurses are guided and mentored by a strong team of Chemotherapy Regional Facilitators who are familiar with the local system, to consolidate and apply their learning in practice. Examples include simulated IV chemotherapy administration practice and cytotoxic spills, as well as side effect assessment and management.

Across the country, we are fortunate to have 42 de Souza chemotherapy facilitators who work tirelessly to support nurses in achieving safe practice in chemotherapy and biotherapy administration. Most of the facilitators are experienced oncology educators from cancer programs. They work closely and seamlessly with de Souza APN educators who teach the online course, and complement the online education through local workshop. They book workshop rooms, set up equipment and teaching tools, and guide nurses through problem based case studies during the workshop. What is remarkable about these facilitators is their commitment to support nurses beyond their own institutions. In some workshops, more than 50% of the participating nurses come from satellite hospitals across the province. Without these facilitators, it will become near impossible to build a competent work force in the safe delivery of chemotherapy and biotherapy administration across the vast geographic areas in this country. They are champions and leading the way of delivering the best possible cancer and palliative care to patients and families.

September is a busy month when we have many new nurses joining the work force in Cancer Care. It is fitting that we recognize the tremendous contribution of our regional educators and chemotherapy facilitators. We thank them for their outstanding contributions to oncology nursing practice and commitment to exemplary patient care and we look forward to continue working and learning together with them.