FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008

BUFFALO, NY – Facilities that recognize and support the value of continuing professional development have an edge when it comes to recruiting and retaining nurses. An innovative program developed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) involves staff nurses from all areas of the Institute in the process of planning and developing continuing professional education programs.

Martha Kershaw, RN, BSN, OCN, Staff Development Instructor at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), is the lead author of the study. Diane Bona, RN, Department of Nursing, will present the details of this program at the 33^rd Annual Congress of the Oncology Nursing Society, May 15-18, in Philadelphia.

In 2005, RPCI established a Nursing Education Council to give nurses from all area of the Institute an opportunity to participate in the development of topics, selection of speakers, CEU application submission, and implementation and evaluation of continuing education programs.

“Sexuality and Cancer” was the first topic selected. Council members assembled a multidisciplinary panel that included a psychologist and cancer survivor, a nurse practitioner, a nurse and a social worker from RPCI and the community and handled all areas of program implementation and evaluation.

The program was successful as measured by strong attendance and excellent evaluations. However, the Council identified ways to improve the process, including having the topic for the next program come from a survey of staff for their ongoing continuing education priorities using an existing Needs Assessment tool.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs both nationally and internationally. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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