Difficult Discussions in Oncology Nursing: Tools, Techniques and Compassion

There is an unmet need to guide nurses to manage their intermediary role between patients, families/caregivers, and physicians. Using strategies like SPIKES (setting, perception, invitation, knowledge, emotions, strategy and summary), NURSE (name, understand, respect, support, explore), and ask-tell-ask during difficult conversations reduces stress on both the nurse and patient, resulting in more effective communication. Due to the frequency of interaction, effective communication skills are critical for the oncology nurse which will lead to improvements in patient centered care.

Target Audience

This program is designed to meet the educational needs of oncology nurses who treat people with cancer.

Learning Objectives

Following this activity, participants should be able to:

  • 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. 
Additional information
Supporters: 

This activity is supported by educational grants from:

  • AstraZeneca
  • Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Novartis

This activity is supported through independent educational grants from:

  • Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Supported by a grant from Pfizer Inc.

This educational activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from GSK.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 0.75 ANCC contact hours
  • 0.75 Participation
Course opens: 
06/15/2026
Course expires: 
03/01/2027
Part of: 
Recorded Presentations from the NCCN 2026 Nursing Program: Advancing Oncology Nursing™
Carey Ramirez, DNP, ANP-C, ACHPN
City of Hope National Medical Center 
 
NCCN Continuing Education Disclosure Policy
 
It is the policy of NCCN that all planners, faculty, moderators, authors, reviewers and anyone involved in the planning and delivery of NCCN continuing education activities are expected to disclose ALL financial relationships they have had in the past 24 months with ineligible companies. The ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence require that individuals who refuse to provide this information will be disqualified from involvement in the planning and implementation of accredited continuing education presented by NCCN. NCCN identifies, mitigates and discloses to learners all relevant financial relationships.
 
In addition, all content has been reviewed to ensure education promotes safe, effective patient care and does not promote the products or services of an ineligible company. Content, including any presentation of therapeutic options, is fair, balanced, evidence-based, scientifically accurate, and free of commercial bias and marketing. 
 
Definitions  
 
Ineligible Company: An ineligible company is any entity whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. 
 
Relevant Financial Relationships: Financial relationships of any dollar amount occurring within the past 24 months are defined as relevant if the educational content an individual can control is related to the business lines or products of an ineligible company. There is no minimum financial threshold. We ask for disclosure of ALL financial relationships with ineligible companies, regardless of the amount and regardless of the potential relevance of each relationship to the education.
 
Faculty Disclaimers  
 
All faculty for this continuing education activity are competent in the subject matter and qualified by experience, training, and/or preparation for the tasks and methods of delivery. Faculty presentations may include discussion of off-label use. Faculty will disclose that the use in question is not currently approved by the FDA per the product labeling or marketing.
 
Faculty Disclosures
 
The faculty listed below have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.
 
Carey Ramirez, DNP, ANP-C, ACHPN
Amanda E. Visnick, RN, BSN, OCN (Nursing Program Moderator) 
 
NCCN Staff Disclosures
 
None of the planners for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
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In support of improving patient care, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nurses: NCCN designates this educational activity for a maximum of 0.75 contact hour.

Available Credit

  • 0.75 ANCC contact hours
  • 0.75 Participation
Please login or register to take this course.

Required Hardware/software

To complete this activity, users will need: 

  • A device with an Internet connection and sound playback capability (speakers or a headset) 
  • Adobe Reader or other PDF reader software for certificate viewing/printing