Vancouver, BC (Tuesday, April 5 2011) — Today, as communities and health professionals across Canada celebrate National Oncology Nursing Day, The Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology / l’Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO) is pleased to announce the publication of its latest resource, Adult Cancer Survivorship: A Self-Learning Resource for Nurses.

The primary purpose of this resource manual is to develop and expand nurses’ knowledge in the care of the patients and families surviving cancer. As CANO/ACIO strives to support oncology nurses in maximizing positive outcomes in oncology care and treatment, this initiative is part of a larger framework of integrated communication initiatives, education programs, learning tools, awards, and research grants the association provides.

The goal of this new resource manual is to provide evidence-based knowledge that will increase awareness of the important role nurses play in cancer survivorship care, thus allowing nurses to facilitate a higher quality of care delivery to patients and families during survivorship. The resource will serve as a highly practical clinical resource for the nurse at the point of care.

“As the number of cancer survivors in Canada continues to climb our members need specific tools and knowledge to inform the nursing care they provide to cancer survivors and their families,” says Jennifer Wiernikowski, President of CANO/ACIO. “We assembled CANO/ACIO members with specific interest and content expertise to create this resource by nurses for nurses. Our working group included top oncology nursing researchers, academics, writers and clinicians to develop the Adult Cancer Survivorship: A Self-Learning Resource for Nurses. We are pleased to announce its release of in conjunction with Oncology Nursing Day 2011.”

The objectives of the manual are to assist nurses to:

• Develop an increased awareness of cancer survivorship, and the physical, psychosocial and spiritualchanges and experiences of cancer and its treatment.
• Enhance their ability to fully assess the needs of cancer survivors and their families.
• Be able to identify the health teaching and health promotion activities that can positively impact cancer survivors and their families as they move towards wellness and possibly reduce the risk of recurrence of their diseas
• Be able to design a care plan for cancer survivors and their families.
• Develop knowledge about the transition cancer survivors go through as they experience the phases of survivorship.
• Acquire knowledge enabling them to provide evidence based cancer survivorship care

For additional information, please visit http://www.cano-acio.ca/survivorship.

ABOUT CANO / ACIO

Established in 1984, CANO/ACIO is the national organization that supports Canadian nurses to promote and develop excellence in oncology nursing practice, education, research and leadership. CANO/ACIO's purpose is to promote prevention of cancer, to provide optimal care of individuals living with cancer, and to provide support for the nurses caring for them. CANO/ACIO represents about 1,000 nurses across Canada. Its members are nurses working in administration, universities, and research institutions, as well as acute and critical care inpatient units, outpatient clinics, palliative care and hospice.

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For more information visit http://www.cano-acio.ca or contact Sean Farrell, 604-306-5559, or email sean@ngfarrell.com.