Postgraduate Diploma in Oncology Nursing

Objetivos do Curso

General objective

- To develop distinctive technical, scientific, interpersonal and ethical skills in the field of Oncology Nursing, equipping nurses to design, manage and deliver complex nursing care to people with cancer, their families and carers throughout the entire course of the disease and in different practice settings.

Specific Objectives

- To critically assess the health needs and human responses of people living with cancer, demonstrating critical and reflective thinking in clinical decision-making for early diagnosis, treatment and safe transition of care.

- To apply scientific evidence and advanced relational models in the design of intervention plans that empower people with cancer, their families and carers to achieve maximum autonomy in self-care, the management of complex symptoms and adherence to the treatment regimen.

- Implement professional practices centred on therapeutic communication, the management of oncological emergencies and clinical safety within the care environment, acting in strict compliance with the ethical, deontological and legal principles of the profession and promoting measurable health outcomes.

Condições de Acesso e Ingresso

Nurses with valid registration with the Nursing Council

Saídas profissionais

- Primary healthcare institutions, hospital units and cancer referral centres forming part of the National Health Service or operating in the private or social sectors;

- Social support organisations, namely Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS), non-governmental organisations providing support to cancer patients, and units within the National Network for Integrated Long-Term Care and Palliative Care;

- Self-employed practice, within the framework of the status of independent practitioner (notably in clinical consultancy, as a nurse navigator and in the provision of specialised home-based cancer care);

- Other contexts where the involvement of nurses with postgraduate training in Oncology Nursing is deemed necessary and appropriate.

Regime de Estudo

B_Learning

Língua(s) de aprendizagem/ Avaliação

Portuguese

Objetivos de Aprendizagem e competências a Desenvolver

By the end of the postgraduate programme, students will be able to:

- Analyse the histophysiopathological, biological and epidemiological complexity of cancer, relating this to the pharmacokinetic profiles and toxicity of different therapeutic approaches.

- Critically assess the health needs and human responses of people living with cancer throughout the entire disease journey, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, chronic phases and advanced stages.

- Design tailored care plans and clinical monitoring protocols based on the best available scientific evidence, aimed at complex symptom management and the prevention of complications.

- Apply advanced therapeutic communication strategies and models of ethical deliberation in the management of sensitive clinical information, in the transition of care, and in providing support to patients, families and carers.

- Develop innovative healthcare solutions aimed at optimising care pathways, auditing records and monitoring indicators relevant to nursing care.

Successful completion of the postgraduate course equips nurses with the following set of skills:

- Provides specialised nursing care in the field of oncology and therapeutic approaches to cancer, designing and implementing interventions that ensure comprehensive, preventive, effective, safe and timely care.

- Manage complications associated with cancer, implementing priority interventions in the management of oncological emergencies and in the management of signs and symptoms related to treatments.

- Establishes effective and efficient therapeutic relationships that respect the centrality, individuality and specific needs of the person, their family and carers, empowering them to achieve their full potential for autonomy in self-care and health management.

- Manages referrals with a view to ensuring complementary and continuous care across different healthcare settings and throughout the life cycle, guaranteeing safe transitions within a multidisciplinary context.

- Supports clinical decision-making in accordance with the ethical and deontological values and legal standards of the profession, actively working to promote the safety of people with cancer, healthcare professionals and the environment.

- Incorporates the results of scientific research into clinical nursing practice, valuing research as a contribution to the continuous improvement of care and advocating for measurable health gains.

Coordenador do curso

- Sónia Alexandra de Lemos Novais - sonia.novais@essnortecvp.pt

Enquadramento Legal da Qualificação

Decree-Law no. 74/2006, of 24 March, amended and republished by Decree-Law no. 65/2018, of 16 August