Following this program, participants should be able to:

• Discuss advances in the treatment of patients with cancer and key updates in the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology and apply appropriate treatment and supportive care strategies to optimize patient education and care.
• Assess and address the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients with cancer through comprehensive symptom management, psychosocial screening, and survivorship planning.
• Demonstrate effective communication, clinical judgement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance nursing practice and patient safety in the cancer care environment. 

• Explain the purpose, design, and therapeutic focus of early-phase clinical trials, including recent advances in efficacy and safety. 
• Assess the challenges experienced by people with cancer participating in early-phase trials, particularly those with advanced disease and limited standard-of-care options. 
• Integrate principles of early palliative and supportive care into nursing practice to optimize quality of life, facilitate access to novel therapies, and enhance the overall clinical trial experience for people with cancer. 

• Define health equity and its relationship to social determinants of health (SDOH) in oncology. 
• Identify key factors within SDOH that can impact cancer treatment outcomes and patient well-being. 
• Explain the benefits and applications of the NCCN Distress Thermometer for addressing both distress and SDOH in the infusion suite. 

• Identify emerging therapies for patients with either esophageal or gastric cancer. 
• Identify nursing interventions in the care of patients receiving newer immunotherapies and targeted therapies.  
• Understand the impact the nursing role will have on quality of life and patient outcomes in this setting. 

• Discuss the radiation treatment modalities used in head and neck cancers.    
• Review the most common side effects associated with radiation therapy in head and neck cancers. 
• Apply nursing interventions to best support patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. 

• Understand the critical importance of accurate drug administration in the oncology setting and become familiarized with the most up-to-date best practices. 
• Identify different routes and techniques of administration of antineoplastic drugs as newer therapies are becoming available. 
• Recognize the obstacles that oncology nurses face when trying to administer full doses of small drug volumes and learn ways to work with the interprofessional team to improve the drug delivery process that enhances patient and nurse safety, improves patient wait times, and prevents suboptimal dosing. 

• Describe the Extended Recovery Unit (ERU) model. 
• Identify specialized training required for oncology nurses working in ERUs. 
• Discuss the impact of ERUs on patient outcomes, hospital bed shortages and post-operative workflows. 

• Identify barriers to therapeutic communication. 
• Recognize and respond to a wide range of emotions fostered by the patient and their caregivers. 
• Incorporate communication models and strategies to navigate challenging interactions.