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The de Souza Institute funds learning
for oncology nurses in Northwestern Ontario
March 17, 2009
The de Souza Institute, a province-wide program dedicated
to providing Ontarians with the world’s best cancer
nursing care, is investing $100,000 in Regional Cancer Care
– Northwest for information technology and a space for
nurses to learn.
The mandate of the Institute, the first of its kind in Canada,
is to develop and provide innovative education and mentorship
programs for oncology nurses in a virtual centre. Information
technology tools will enable the Institute to reach out into
every corner of the province to provide a mix of classes using
tee-health and other e-learning methods.
“Oncology nurses are the front-line of patient-centred
cancer care and our goal is to make every cancer nurse in
Ontario a de Souza nurse. We will also offer de Souza programs
to nurses working outside cancer centers who see oncology
patients and to nurses based in community health centres,”
says Dr. Mary Jane Esplen, Director of the Institute. “We
will do this by building the specialized skills, lifelong
learning and strategies every nurse can use to improve patient
and family cancer care across Ontario. We will also focus
on helping nurses improve the balance in their own lives to
avoid professional burnout.”
And the first “class” of de Souza nurses is already
hard at work – more than 150 are enrolled and preparing
to take the Canadian Nursing Association (CNA) certification
exam in oncology nursing or palliative care in the spring.
The CNA exam is open to all nurses and includes topics ranging
from symptom management, knowledge of specific cancers, psychosocial
and spiritual care.
The de Souza Institute course planning is underway and will
focus on areas with known knowledge gaps including, grief
management, genetics, psychosocial oncology and chemotherapy
standardization.
"Enhanced educational opportunities will foster oncology
nursing excellence both at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences
Centre and throughout the Northwest's Regional Cancer Program.
This grant from the de Souza Foundation will support continuing
education models so that our nurses can participate in world
class education without having to leave their home community."
said Michael Power, Vice President of Regional Cancer Services
and Diagnostics, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Premier Dalton McGuinty launched the de Souza Institute in
May 2008 by announcing $15 million of provincial funding over
five years. The Institute is named after Anna Maria de Souza,
the founder of the Brazilian Ball, an event which has raised
millions of dollars for philanthropic causes, including oncology
nursing at Princess Margaret Hospital, where she died in 2007.
About the de Souza Institute
The de Souza Institute is a knowledge-transfer centre for
oncology nursing at Princess Margaret Hospital. Established
in May 2008 with a $15 million funding boost from the Nursing
Secretariat of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care,
the Institute’s steering committee includes members
from Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network,
Cancer Care Ontario, University of Toronto and McMaster University
who ensure nurses provide the best cancer care to Ontarians.
For more information, contact Susan Clarke at 416-340-6269
or visit www.desouzastudy.com.
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