The clinical nurse specialist's role in head and neck cancer care: United Kingdom National Multidisciplinary Guidelines

Abstract

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. It discusses the role of the clinical nurse specialist in the head and neck cancer patient journey and provides recommendations on the clinical nurse specialist led assessments and interventions for this group of patients receiving cancer care.Recommendations• All cancer patients should meet a clinical nurse specialist at the point of diagnosis. (R)• Clinical nurse specialists must act as gate keeper to the patients' cancer pathway to provide a seamless journey. (R)• Holistic needs assessment should be completed at different stages of the patient's pathway to reflect the changes of the patients' needs. (R)• Clinical nurse specialists to be part of local and national initiatives for health promotion and raising awareness in the public domain. (G)• Clinical nurse specialists should lead in redesigning of services and policies to ensure they are responsive to patient's needs for the future. (G)• Treatment summaries should become part of practice to provide good communication between primary and secondary care to enable continuity of care for the patient. (G)

Nutritional experiences in head and neck cancer patients

“…However, such a patientcentred approach of providing information and nutritional interventions may not fit the current streamlined cancer pathways in Norway, and we therefore suggest that individually tailored nutritional support forms a part of the clinical pathway of HNC treatment. Clinical nurse specialists are recommended to act as gatekeepers to the patients' cancer pathway to provide a seamless journey; they therefore form a vital part of the multidisciplinary team to support implementation of more patient-centred nutritional support in all phases of the treatment trajectory (Dempsey, Orr, Lane, & Scott, 2016).…”

Onkoloji Hastalarında Beslenme Sorunlarının Yönetimi ve Hemşirenin Rolü

“…Bu bakımın sağlanmasında multidisipliner ekip iş birliği önemlidir. Tedavi ekibinde hastalar onkoloji hemşireleri ile sık sık iletişim halindedirler [32][33][34] . Dolayısıyla kansere bağlı beslenme sorunlarının yönetiminde onkoloji hemşireleri önemli bir ekip üyesidir 14 .…”

A survey of nursing and multidisciplinary team members' perspectives on the perceived contribution of intellectual disability clinical nurse specialists

“…In the current economic climate, the provision of quality health care involves strong clinical and professional leadership (ICN, ). As a lead nursing role, CNSs are essential in the provision of information, communication and organisation of care within a multidisciplinary setting as they are accessible to patients/clients and influence care pathways (Dempsey, Orr, Lane, & Scott, ). Clinical nurse specialists are well positioned to support patients/clients at each step of their care, safeguarding that multidisciplinary care is appropriate to the patient/client needs and choices, and encourage patient/client inclusion within the team (Dempsey et al, ; Leary & Oliver, ).…”

“…As a lead nursing role, CNSs are essential in the provision of information, communication and organisation of care within a multidisciplinary setting as they are accessible to patients/clients and influence care pathways (Dempsey, Orr, Lane, & Scott, ). Clinical nurse specialists are well positioned to support patients/clients at each step of their care, safeguarding that multidisciplinary care is appropriate to the patient/client needs and choices, and encourage patient/client inclusion within the team (Dempsey et al, ; Leary & Oliver, ). Thereby, CNSs are a key component of the MDT and viewed as knowledgeable and independent practitioners that have a central role in influencing patient/client care that contributes to standards of care, safety and the patient/client experience (RCSI, ).…”