EdCaN News

19^th June 2009:

Launch of the EdCaN On Line Resouces:
EdCaN on Cancer Learning is now available!

On Friday 19^thJune, 2009 Professor David Currow, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Australia and Dr Ian Roos, Chair of the EdCaN Steering Committee officially launched the EdCaN on Cancer Learning as part of the 12^thCNSA Winter Congress in Newcastle.

This was an exciting day for all of us who have been involved with the EdCaN project, and we thank everyone that was involved in helping to make the day so successful, including all of you that had the opportunity to join us for this event.

These resources are now freely available on the Cancer Learning website so why not check them out now.

EdCaN On Cancer Learning

Photos from the Launch

15^th June 2009:

Release of the A National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing: Second Edition - June 2009

With the official Launch of the EdCaN Learning Resources nearly upon us, EdCaN has also released the Second Edition of the National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing.

This new edition of the EdCaN Framework covers a number of areas relevant to nursing and cancer control, including:

•  ANMC competency standards for registered nurses
•  ANMC competency standards for enrolled (Division 2) nurses
•  ANMC competency standards for nurse practitioners

Download a copy of this edition of the framework here:
A National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing:
Second Edition - June 2009

May 2009:

Launch of the EdCaN Learning Resources on Friday 19^th June, 2009

As part of the CNSA’s 12^thWinter Congress, EdCaN will be holding it’s official Launch of education resources for cancer nurses on Friday 19 June, 2009.

This years congress will be held in Newcastle from the 19^thto 20^thof June and following it's opening ceremony on Friday morning, Professor David Currow, Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Australia and Dr Ian Roos, Chair of the EdCaN Steering Committee will be launching the suite of EdCaN Learning Resources on Cancer Learning.

EdCaN will also be running a number preconference events and a breakfast session as part of roll out of the resources along with our information booth to give you plenty of opportunity to see how the EdCaN Framework and supporting resource can be used

This will be a very special series of events for all of us who have been involved in the EdCaN project over the last 4 years, and also for all those who have been part of the journey with us.

We sincerely hope that can you all join us for these events, particularly on the Friday where you will have the opportunity to collect your very own copy of The EdCaN Teaching and Learning Resource Kit which will be available as part of the launch.

November 2008:

Release of: Allied Health Professionals and Cancer Control - The Current Content of Entry to Practice Level Curricula

People affected by cancer expect to receive care from competent health professionals at every stage of their cancer journey. It is therefore important that all health professionals enter their practice with knowledge of cancer control. The EdCaN Allied Health scoping study was undertaken to investigate the extent of cancer content within Australian entry to practice allied health programs and help determine if the EdCaN suite of resources could also be utilised within such programs.

The results of this survey were recently presented in poster session at the 35^thClinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney, a copy of which can be downloaded below along with a link to our Allied Health Survey Fact Sheet.

The findings suggested that while the majority of providers only included cancer control to a minor degree within their allied health entry to practice curricula, there was strong interest for resources that would facilitate its future inclusion. EdCaN therefore hopes to work with these interested providers to explore how our resources might be adapted for use by entry to practice level allied health students. Introducing cancer control at this level may foster an interest in cancer and encourage future development of specialist skills throughout their professional lives, ensuring that people affected by cancer obtain care from competent health professionals.

Download copies of the
Allied Health Scoping Survey Poster
&
Allied Health Scoping Survey Factsheet

October 2008:

Release of: Principles underpinning Competency Assessment

As part of the suite of resources being developed, EdCaN is also looking into the development of competency assessment tools that may be used in conjunction with the education resources. One of the first outcomes of this has been the drafting of the document “Principles underpinning Competency Assessment” which aims to provided a set of principles to guide best practice in competency assessment.

A copy of this draft document is now available for you review and comment. For further information or to comment on this draft document please contact Ms Linda Devilee, Project Manager at linda.devilee@qut.edu.au

Download a draft copy of the
Principles underpinning Competency Assessment

July 2008:

Cancer Learning is Live!

As part of the collaborative program between EdCaN and the Professional Development Project Consortium (formally the CPD project), we are happy to announce that the professional development website www.cancerlearning.gov.au is now live.

The Cancer Learning online hub is an initiative of Cancer Australia and aims to:

• Consolidate the enormous variety of evidence-based learning activities, resources and information in cancer care available across Australia and overseas
• Provide a first port of call for health professionals, organisations and cancer networks who wish to undertake, build or plan professional development programs and activities in cancer care
• Enable resources and information to be shared by cancer care providers across Australia.

The site was constructed by and houses the resources being developed by EdCaN and the CPD projects funded through the Australian government’s Strengthening Cancer Care initiative.

June 2008:

Release of: A National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing

After two years of development including an extensive process of consultation with nurses, people affected by cancer and other stakeholders, we were proud to launch “A National Professional Development Framework for Cancer Nursing” at this years CNSA Winter Congress.

We would like to thank everyone who, individually or as a representative of their organisation, contributed to this Framework by providing feedback and suggestions for its direction and content. People affected by cancer, individual nurses including cancer nurses as well as organisations including Cancer Australia, Cancer Nurses Society of Australia, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery, the Royal College of Nursing Australia, the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, the Breast Cancer Network Australia, the various state Cancer Councils of Australia, the Cancer Institute New South Wales, the Australian Rural Nurses and Midwives, and the Leukaemia Foundation all provided valuable feedback on this Framework.

The development of this Framework for cancer nursing and the accompanying education resources are part of the broader cancer control efforts needed to reduce the burden of cancer in Australia.

Photos from the Launch

April 2008:

Release of the EdCaN Literature Review of Competency Assessment In Nursing: A summary of literature published since 2000

This literature review was commissioned by the National Cancer Nursing Education Project (EdCaN) with the aim of identifying best available evidence related to assessment of competency in nursing practice.

The review includes 54 articles published between 2000 and 2007 and builds on evidence reviews conducted previously. Covering a range of competence indicators and assessment tools they provide some useful insights into approaches for competence assessment.

Recommendations from this review will assist in informing the development of principles and guidelines to support inclusion of competency assessment within a cancer nursing curriculum in Australia.

Competency Assessment In Nursing:
A summary of literature published since 2000