As the Swedish Cancer Institute’s (SCI) Director of Quality and Clinical Practice, I recently went to China to advocate for the nurses role in cancer supportive care and patient education. Sponsored by Merck Oncology, I spoke at the Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) Summit in Beijing to 200 providers from across China.
As the only international oncology nurse on the agenda, I presented with other physicians and pharmacists about the importance of nurses on a multi-disciplinary team, the nurses role in quality of life for patients and the importance of nursing in symptom management.At the completion of the 2 day Summit, I went to 3 cancer hospitals in China including the Peking University Cancer Hospital in Beijing, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center in Guangzhou and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Hospital to network with nurses at each site, to present the same message, and to educate nurses specifically on the management of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting. It was a rewarding trip to share the SCI multi-disciplinary approach to patient care with nursing colleagues from China. I found it to be a true honor to represent nursing, to model nurse leadership and to advocate for nurses among their physician and pharmacy colleagues.