October 9, 2012

Cancer Care Network Affiliated Nurses Participate in Simulator Training to Enhance Skills in Oncology Nursing

Fourteen nurses from community hospitals affiliated with the UC Davis Cancer Care Network participated in a simulation and a training event at the UC Davis Center for Health and Technology and UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center on Friday.  The event marked the first time affiliate nurses have participated to update their skills in oncology nursing care. 

The UC Davis Cancer Care Network facilitated the event as part of its mission in providing leadership in transformative cancer care, research and education for diverse communities in Northern and Central California. 

UC Davis Simulator Training for CCN Nurses
Visiting oncology nurses from the Cancer Care Network in simulation exercise with William Hammontree, manager of the Center for Virtual Care.

The simulation experience included reviewing reactions to chemotherapy including anaphylaxis and respiratory/cardiac arrest. Nurses then had an opportunity to "respond" to a simulated patient experiencing a severe reaction and a code situation. The computer-activated scenario in the new Center for Virtual Care responded to the nurses' actions. Staffers later debriefed and reviewed the process to enhance the learning experience.

After the simulation the group attended presentations by UC Davis oncology nurse Christine Fonseca on several UC Davis nursing initiatives, including professional governance, the magnet application process and the professional nursing practice model. Physical therapist Kelly Barry provided a program on ergonomics for infusion nurses. 

"This day captured the intent of the Cancer Care Network in sharing the resources and technology of UC Davis with affiliated rural centers, which are committed to providing quality care in their communities," said Terri Wolf, nursing and quality coordinator for the Cancer Care Network. "By accessing UC Davis expertise in simulation technology, the nurses can increase their confidence in handling emergencies."

The event concluded with tours of the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center expansion and the oncology unit on Davis 8. Participants included nurses at Rideout Cancer Center in Marysville; Mercy/UC Davis Cancer Center in Merced; and the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, in Truckee.

 UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated center serving the Central Valley and inland Northern California, a region of more than 6 million people. Its specialists provide compassionate, comprehensive care for more than 9,000 adults and children every year, and access to more than 150 clinical trials at any given time.

Its innovative research program engages more than 280 scientists at UC Davis, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Jackson Laboratory (JAX West), whose scientific partnerships advance discovery of new tools to diagnose and treat cancer. Through the Cancer Care Network, UC Davis collaborates with a number of hospitals and clinical centers throughout the Central Valley and Northern California regions to offer the latest cancer care. Its community-based outreach and education programs address disparities in cancer outcomes across diverse populations. For more information, visit cancer.ucdavis.edu.