Quality
Assessment of Pediatric Oncology Nursing Care in a Central American
Country: Findings, Recommendations, And Preliminary Outcomes
Sara W. Day
Paula M. Dycus
Elisabeth A. Chismark
Leslie McKeon
In
developing countries, where 80% to 85% of childhood cancer cases occur,
the survival rate is often less than 10%. The mission of the
International Outreach Program (IOP) at St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital is to improve the survival rate of children with cancer.
Essential to this mission is the provision of quality nursing care. In
May 2006, the quality of nursing care at an IOP Central American
partner-site was assessed using nursing standards endorsed by the Joint
Commission International (JCI). The assessment provided objective and
credible findings and a baseline from which nursing needs and
recommendations were determined. After careful review of data, the IOP
staff provided recommendations in the areas of education, staffing,
compensation, and communication.
|