Highlights of oncology care training in the Nurse specialty in Medical University – Pleven, Bulgaria

Abstract

Abstract Background Training of nurse students at Faculty of Health Care - Pleven should be carried out in accordance with the Faculty mission for building highly qualified health professionals. For ‘Nurse' specialty there is an approved educational documentation in accordance with the latest changes in the national and European regulations for higher education. The aim of the study is to analyze methods of training in oncology care for student nurses and to give recommendations for their updating. Material and methods A direct group self-administered questionnaire was conducted amongst 124 students in II, III and IV year of their nursing education. In addition, document analysis of the curriculum and methods of teaching and training have done. Data processing was performed by SPSS v.24. Results Almost all (96,78%) respondents consider that oncology care requires special competencies and 85,45% say they need additional training to perform their duties. Students assess as insufficient their skills in: performing emergency actions in extravasation of cytostatic, application of algorithms for behavior in case of hypersensitivity, application of diet in patients undergoing cytotoxic therapy. It was found that the oftenest teaching methods for the acquisition of knowledge are lectures. Ranking of methods for acquiring skills according to the respondents are as follow: lectures (66,13%), practical (63.71%), work in small groups (14,53%) and role games (7,34%). The least represented is the simulation as a training method (6,41%). Four of five students didn't participate in projects with oncological focus during the training period. Conclusions Mastering practical skills in the field of oncology care during the basic training of nurses is an important but neglected part of education. The role of interactive methods should be increased because practical training of students in Nurse is theorized. Involving students in practical activities will stimulate their creative activity. Key messages Students in Nurse specialty assess their practical skills in the field of oncology care as insufficient, and emphasizes on the necessity of their enhancement. One of the main problems of training nurses in oncological care is a prioritization of theory than practice. Skills acquiring is not effective without application of interactive methods of training.