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What is the Role of the Oncology Nurse in Fertility Preservation Counseling and Education for Young Patients?

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Abstract

Oncology nurses are uniquely positioned to offer fertility preservation counseling and education for cancer patients of reproductive age, yet there is a dearth of research that focuses on current practice and perceptions of nursing role. In 2013, the American Society of Clinical Oncology extended the duties of fertility preservation counseling among patients of reproductive age undergoing cancer treatment to include registered nurses and other allied health professionals as active partners in the counseling and education process. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive survey to assess current practices, role perceptions, and barriers to fertility preservation counseling among registered nurses working in an academic care setting with outpatient and inpatient services. There were significant gaps in current practices and perceptions of roles regarding fertility preservation counseling. Many nurses expressed the perception that fertility preservation counseling was important, but it was outside the scope of their practice to perform this education. This preliminary work defined need for an interdisciplinary fertility preservation team, communication surrounding educational practice norms, and designated oncofertility navigator.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Virginia School of Nursing, P.O. Box 800782, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    Jessica Keim-Malpass

  2. University of Virginia Emily Couric Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Hannah S. Fitzhugh, Laura P. Smith, Ryan P. Smith, Mike G. Douvas, Tanya Thomas, Gina Petroni & Linda Duska

  3. Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Center of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Laura P. Smith

  4. University of Virginia School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Laura P. Smith

  5. Division of Urology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Ryan P. Smith

  6. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Jeanne Erickson

  7. Hematology-Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Mike G. Douvas

  8. University of Virginia Health System Acute Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Tanya Thomas

  9. Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Gina Petroni

  10. Gynecologic Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Linda Duska

Authors
  1. Jessica Keim-Malpass
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  2. Hannah S. Fitzhugh
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  3. Laura P. Smith
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  4. Ryan P. Smith
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  5. Jeanne Erickson
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  6. Mike G. Douvas
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  7. Tanya Thomas
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  8. Gina Petroni
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  9. Linda Duska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jessica Keim-Malpass.

Additional information

Submitted for consideration as a short communication

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Keim-Malpass, J., Fitzhugh, H.S., Smith, L.P. et al. What is the Role of the Oncology Nurse in Fertility Preservation Counseling and Education for Young Patients?. J Canc Educ 33, 1301–1305 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-017-1247-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-017-1247-y

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