Maintenance of Competency in the Administration of Cancer Systemic Therapy Pathway
Registered Nurses certified in the administration of cancer systemic therapy (RNCCs) are responsible for maintaining competency in the care for patients receiving cancer systemic therapy.
Current RNCCs who were certified in STC administration prior to the inception of the Cancer Systemic Therapy Certification Course (CSTCC) in May 2021 and who have administered cancer systemic therapy in the last 2 years are eligible and encouraged to register for the de Souza Institute’s Provincial Standardized Chemotherapy and Biotherapy (PSCB) course. This educational opportunity is designed to support current RNCCs to acquire, maintain, and advance their knowledge, skills, critical thinking, and clinical judgement related to best practice standards, policies and procedures, and competencies related to the administration of Cancer Systemic Therapy.
Course Requirements
Learners will be enrolled in the 11-week regular offering of PSCB, which requires:
- Completion of 15 PSCB modules
- Submission of the Adverse Effects of Immunotherapy and Infusion Reactions assignments at the end of week 7
- Attendance at an in-person or virtual skills and simulation lab day
- Completion of a 2-hour online final exam with an invigilator
Unlike the CSTCC, there is no precepted clinical component or submission of a CSTCC skills assessment checklist.
Upon Course Completion
By completing the PSCB course requirements, the RNCC will be eligible to enroll every 2 years in the Chemotherapy Competency Maintenance Course (CCMC) via the de Souza Institute (and will receive an email reminder). The course is designed to support RNCCs in maintaining their competency in cancer systemic therapy administration. The CCMC is a 5-hour self-paced course designed to be consistent with the CANO/AICO standards and competencies for Oncology Nursing Practice in Systemic Therapy. Also accessible are reflective practice tools to identify learning needs and strategies to meet learning goals which are a requirement of the NS Cancer Care Program Maintenance of Competency in the Administration of Cancer Systemic Therapy activities.
Re-certification in the Administration of Cancer Systemic Therapy
RNCCs who have not administered cancer systemic therapy for 2 years or longer will be required to demonstrate both knowledge and clinical competency prior to administering cancer systemic therapy independently. Specifically, the RN will:
- Enroll in the CSTCC via the Learning Institute
- Complete the STC Administration: Maintenance of Competency Skills Checklist and TTP Competency Self-Assessment with their clinical leadership team
- Be precepted until deemed competent by their clinical leadership team
- Submit CSTCC skills checklist
- Enroll in CCMC q 24 months
- Continue Annual Maintenance of Competency activities