A Fundamental Study for a System Establishment of Advanced Practice Nursing for Gynecological Cancer Patients

Park, Chai Soon

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to provide fundamental information for a system establishment of advanced practice nursing for gynecological cancer patients (APN-GCP). METHOD: Data was collected by focus group and individual interviews and analyzed in the framework of the Grounded theory method mapped by Strauss and Corbin (1990). There were 13 subjects in this study (nurses, doctors, patient and her family). RESULT: We identified 87 concepts, 22 sub-categories, and 10 categories. Categories for role expectation were arrangement of diagnosis and treatment process, giving information of treatment course, support of treatment process, patients' right toward making a decision of treatment, counseling and teaching after discharge from hospital, medical insurance and financial problems, counseling about sexual problems and use of family and community resources. All subjects perceived the necessity of an APN-GCP. An APN-GCP requires over 2~7 years clinical experience and a master's degree. Services would be performed from initial registration to termination of treatment or death, and accomplished on an outpatient clinic basis.
CONCLUSION
The nursing delivery system and curriculum should be developed for a women's health nurse practitioner including APN-GCP. As a further step, cost-effectiveness and projected estimation of manpower of APN-GCP should be studied in the future.