Pediatric Cancer Nursing Training: Tikur Anbessa Hospital
- Visiting and local nurses at the First International Symposium in Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer in Ethiopia.
- Nursing staff at Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In January 2011, a team of five nurses visited the Tikur Anbessa Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the invitation of Dr. Aziza Shad, President of INCTR US A. The purpose of the visit was to provide training based upon needs specified by the hospital’s nursing leadership in a questionnaire that was completed prior to the team’s visit. The local nurses requested information about the most common pediatric cancers seen at the hospital, chemotherapy preparation and administration, and safety and organization. Cecelia Rose (“CR”) English, from Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC, Kelly Bergfeld, from Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC and Lauren Tytler, from the Children's Hospital of Denver in Colorado – all highly experienced pediatric oncology nurses and familiar with nursing in Ethiopia – created teaching modules based on the questionnaire results.
CR arrived in Addis Ababa on January 3rd and spent time on the two pediatric units at the hospital in order to learn how nursing care is delivered to children with cancer through observing the nurses at work. Julia Challinor and Savitri Singh-Carlson, representatives of INCTR’s Oncology Nursing Program and experienced nurse educators, joined CR on the 13th and began discussions with the head nurses of both units.
Lauren and Kelly joined the visiting nursing team on January 17th for a tour of the pediatric units. The tour was followed by a focus group for the nurses about the strengths and challenges of pediatric oncology nursing at the hospital. A questionnaire addressing the topics of the focus group was also distributed for completion by nurses unable to attend the group or those who wanted to write their answers. From the focus group and questionnaire, it was learned that the nurses identified patient and parent comfort issues as one of their biggest challenges.
- (Left to right) Cecelia Rose English, Lauren Tytler and Kelly Bergfeld during the First International Symposium in Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer in Ethiopia.
- Visiting nurses teaching at Black Lion Hospital.
On January 18th, 28 Ethiopian nurses - not only from Tikur Anbessa Hospital, but from other surrounding Ethiopian hospitals - attended a day of didactic teaching on chemotherapy preparation, administration and the management of side effects. The Ethiopian nurses were given manuals containing information about common chemotherapeutic agents and their side effects. The following day, the visiting nursing team went to the pediatric units to observe chemotherapy preparation and administration by Ethiopian nurses and to interact with the children. They also distributed donated textbooks, supplies, including stethoscopes and gloves, to the nurses and toys for the children. Interviews were conducted with one nursing instructor and five students from the nursing school who were on the pediatric unit. The nurses from the hospital and surrounding hospitals attended the last two days of the First International Symposium in Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer in Ethiopia that were devoted to palliative and supportive care.
The following week, Lauren and Kelly visited the Adult Hematology/Oncology Unit where they met with Dr. Amha Gebremedhin, Head of the Adult Hematology and the adult hematology/oncology nurses. The nurses were given educational materials. Medications and supplies were also donated to the unit. Kelly and Lauren gave a teaching session on chemotherapy administration and afterwards observed chemotherapy administration by the nurses. Comments and advice were given to the adult nurses regarding data management and documentation, as well as safe practices of chemotherapy administration.
Plans were made for a return visit in May 2011 to assess the care of children for whom cure is no longer possible and to address nutrition, infection control, and nursing education. This initial visit marked the beginning of the collaboration between INCTR and the nurses at Tikur Anbessa Hospital to improve nursing care of pediatric cancer patients seen at the hospital.
