Clinical journal of oncology nursing
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Oncology nurses are experts in pain management, and pain is the hallmark of sickle cell disease (SCD). Because individuals with cancer and individuals with SCD often receive care from hematologists or oncologists and are admitted to the same nursing units, oncology nurses need to have an understanding of SCD and the challenges that these individuals face.
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Oncology nurses frequently care for patients who are dying or near death, leading to emotional distress, compassion fatigue, and staff turnover. Providing appropriate social and professional support to nursing staff is imperative to maintaining satisfaction and decreasing turnover. ⋯ The current article discusses the success of helping the staff in the fight against compassion fatigue by implementing bereavement interventions in a community hospital's oncology unit. The program can be applied to many oncology settings and practices to help keep valuable oncology nurses in their careers.