Leadership in cancer care: introduction.

Paterson, Catherine

Abstract

It has been a distinct honor to lead Seminars in Oncology Nursing as the Editor-in-Chief throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and conclude my 3-year term with this special issue focused on leadership in oncology nursing. During my time of serving as the editor in chief of Seminars in Oncology Nursing I have observed an impressive rise in oncology nursing research scholarship contributions. Our journal is now ranked in the top 10 nursing journals globally, moved from a quartile four to a top quartile one journal ranking, with rapid rise in impact factor (3.5 rating) during my time serving for this journal. Our author contributions have underscored that nursing leadership is exposed to various organizational, scientific, political, and economic demand. Leadership practices among our oncology nursing workforce can positively or negatively influence outcomes for organizations, providers, and ultimately patients. In this issue, we discuss many important topics related to nursing leadership in oncology that have not been often addressed in the prior peer-reviewed literature. The prominence and importance of leadership in fundamentals of oncology care1 have never been more pertinent than in the past 3 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2 Partnering with people affected by cancer is central to effective leadership in health care organizations. Kriel provides a contemporary real-world, real-life insight into gaps in supportive care for people affected by colorectal cancer. This article was led by a patient with the aim to identify future priorities to improve care and recovery in colorectal survivorship care. Dr Julia Challinor3 provides a narrative review on global oncology nursing recruitment and retention, which intertwines with advocacy, policy shaping, and leadership. Dr Charalambous presents a critical synthesis of theoretical frameworks of leadership in nursing. Nursing leadership is a complex concept underpinned by many leadership theories that have been developed beyond the context of nursing. The leadership capacity pathway relies on competency frameworks that are explicitly designed to transfer knowledge to nurses, which are essential for every nurse leader across diverse settings and levels. Professor Chan and colleagues addresses the important difference between evidence-based practice and knowledge translation and explores the usefulness of applying transformational leadership in facilitating knowledge translation to everyday practice. One further approach to facilitating knowledge translation in clinical practice is through cultivating clinical academic pathways in the nursing profession. A clinical academic is recognized as a role that concurrently engages in both clinical practice and research. A systematic review is presented that highlights the experiences of clinical academic positions in nursing, and underscores implications for practice, research, and leadership. Clinical academic roles are being developed across the nursing profession outside of medicine and dentistry, and effective leadership it is important to support sustainable career pathways and curricula in oncology nursing. Dr Virpi contributes to the discussion about how cancer nursing leaders can act as visionaries and support transformation of cancer nursing for the future. This issue concludes with a commentary about national leadership in delivery of a nurse-led models of prostate cancer survivorship. In conclusion, I would like to personally thank all the expert authors who have contributed to this special issue. I would like to express my gratitude more broadly to scholarship contributions of all authors and patients in Seminars in Oncology Nursing, and lastly, to my editorial board team who have shared their expertise, wisdom, and contemporary insights into leadership in oncology nursing globally.

Citation

PATERSON, C. 2023. Leadership in cancer care: introduction. Seminars in oncology nursing [online], 39(1), article 151359. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2022.151359

• Journal Article Type: Editorial
• Acceptance Date: Nov 18, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Nov 18, 2022
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2023
• Deposit Date: Dec 2, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 19, 2023
• Journal: Seminars in oncology nursing
• Print ISSN: 0749-2081
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-3449
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 151359
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2022.151359
• Keywords: Leadership; Oncology nursing; Leadership practices; Nursing leadership; Oncology care
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1822729