translated from Spanish: President of the Chilean Society of Oncology Nursing: “The pandemic has taught us to smile with our eyes, support without hugs and animate with words”

As part of international nursing day, the president of the Chilean Society of Oncology Nursing, Miguel Paredes Villanueva, carried out a recount of the last year, which has been marked by the health crisis by Covid-19.
In the highlight that under the current pandemic context its mission and social role has been more present than ever, contributing to the development of cancer nursing, generating up-to-date knowledge of the area through continuous research and training, along with the integration of the national and international cancer nursing network.
All this under a look at humanized care, based on standards of quality and safety, as highlighted by its team composed of the vice president, Kely Barahona Albornoz; the secretary, Jenniffer Herrera Anncucheo; paola Viveros Lamas and CEO Esteban Sánchez.
In this line, and as for its mission, Miguel Paredes emphasizes that “society is a non-profit organization of a scientific- technical nature of national, autonomous and independent scope. Our partners are nurses and nurses who belong to different sectors related to oncology such as Radiation Therapy, Hematology, Chemotherapy, Pain Relief and Palliative Care, serving both adult and pediatric patients and the public and private sector”
Also, with regard to the challenges for this 2021, professionals have had to adapt again and again to all the scenarios experienced for more than a year.

How did they change because of the pandemic?
Mainly using the virtual modality which in turn allowed an extension at the national level and greater communication and call. International experts in webinars and our annual Congress were also available. On the other hand, we had participation from the beginning supporting the education of patients in care in times of pandemic, which could be realized through educational brochures delivered in the main hospitals and clinics throughout Chile.
We held several work tables and conversations that allowed our partners to bring our associates closer to the different realities of each place and to be able to discuss and analyze standardized care strategies to continue to give our attentions.
Why did you decide to specialize in oncology? What are the tasks a nurse or nurse who works with cancer patients should do?
Working in oncology is a rewarding experience, forcing you to change the look you had of life. It requires a lot of commitment, knowledge and knowing how to manage emotions. It allows to acquire a great closeness with the patient and his family being able to manage care at all levels: prevention in health, treatment of symptoms and accompaniment at the end of life and bereavement.
For these reasons, the perfect mix between a high level of technical knowledge is required accompanied by a lot of humanization. Accompany reason with a passion to care.
How have these work changed in the context of a pandemic?
Only in physical esttachment, smiling with the gaze, supporting without hugs and cheering with words.
What are the challenges faced by cancer nurses in the pandemic and how have you seen them adapted to these challenges?
The biggest challenge for them has been that throughout this period of pandemic they have never stopped working, the cancer did not stop because of this health crisis, therefore nurses have had to adapt again and again to all scenarios experienced for more than a year. In many establishments they had to make full-service transfers to other floors and even to other care facilities. Adapt to role reassignments such as moving from administrative to clinical care, implementing 12- and 24-hour shifts. All to continue the care of the cancer patient.
During the onset of the pandemic, the main fear and focus was not to get Covid-19 so as not to generate outbreaks among patients and officials. Subsequently, reorganize each unit of work to decrease patient exposure, implementing medical controls in a virtual way, monitoring and monitoring nursing over the phone, in some cases modifying the protocols of treatment from endovenous to oral route, decreased hospitalizationsincreasing outpatient treatments. Patient and family access flows also had to be adapted to hospitalization and outpatient units.
Undoubtedly, everything above has meant unimaginable physical and emotional wear and tear.
What are the challenges cancer patients have faced due to pandemic restrictions?
The biggest challenge for our patients has been to take care of ourselves to avoid Covid-19 contagion, because of the state of immunosuppression in most of them. They have had spacing of their medical checks and general health care, others have had to do tele-consultations, which for older adults poses an additional challenge, causing in some of them anxiety and insecurity. They had to accept and understand the changes in their treatments, while having to maintain physical isolation for fear of contagion, decreasing their quality of life and moving away from their loved ones, often their main support during the disease.
What is the value and contribution of nursing for patients and health systems and how does this value make sense on International Nursing Day?
Statistics tell us that nurses and nurses comprise the largest group of health workers worldwide and provide 90% of patient care. They provide comprehensive care, including the physical, psychological, cultural, and spiritual aspects of the patient and his or her family. They are fundamental professionals for the promotion, prevention and recovery of the health of the population and as already stated worldwide, having an adequate rate of nurses and nurses by patients and highly trained, is essential to obtain optimal health results. Within direct care, adding one more patient per nurse correlates with a 7% increase in mortality within 30 days of admission.
This value takes on special meaning on International Nursing Day, which commemorates the birth of Florence Nightingale, who in the English war camps managed to lead a transformation to implement hygiene, sanitation, delivery of nutritious food, comfort for patients. This resulted in a decrease in the mortality rate from 40% to 20% and his work resulted in advances in public health throughout the British Army and the world.
Finally, the oncology nursing is to accompany with passion, giving our work the added value to the care of Nursing of the day to day being able to change the life experience of patients and their families.

Original source in Spanish

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