The School of Nursing launches a new Masters in Advanced Practice for Oncology Nursing

In the new academic year 2022-23, the School of Nursing of the University of Navarra will offer a new Master´s Degree in Advanced Practice for Oncology Nursing at its Postgraduate Campus in Madrid. The program is aimed at training nursing professionals "who contribute to humanizing care and empowering cancer patients and their families, as well as implementing complex shared decision-making processes," explains the head of the program, Navidad Canga, a professor at the university.

According to the expert, the program's focus on the field of oncology is due to the fact that this disease "has become a major healthcare challenge as it is already one of the most prevalent diseases in terms of health and social impact, with a growing number of new cases, which is approaching 290,000 a year in Spain".

"At the same time", added the professor, "Although the number of cases are increasing, the life expectancy of patients who, in any case, often have to receive continuous treatment, has also improved significantly. The new masters program aims to provide the nursing professional with training that will make him/her the leader and coordinator of the complex treatment and care teams required by this disease".  A professional profile that, the expert stresses, "is well established in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the USA, with whose experts we work".

Nursing, a leader in continuity of care

In this sense, the new master's degree will equip professionals with the key competencies to exercise the role of advanced practice in nursing. That is, professionals with advanced clinical judgment to make decisions in complex cases - which often occurs in oncological diseases; to develop research skills in order to improve processes and propose changes that result in the increased well-being of patients and their families; experts also in team coordination and collaboration skills to improve continuity of care and with the ethical and transformational leadership skills to facilitate continuous improvement of clinical practice".

“Cancer is a priority, given that its incidence is increasing in Navarra, Spain and Europe. Lung cancer is already the leading cause of premature death (before the age of 75) in Navarre. 59% percent of new diagnoses occur in men, with an average age of 68, and 41% in women, with an average age of 66", explains the head of the new postgraduate course.