Cancer centers lean into nurse scientists

Some of the largest cancer centers in the nation are leaning on nurse scientists to improve patient outcomes.

There are two types of nurse scientists: those who are clinically focused and support front-line staff through quality improvement and unit-based projects, and those who are research focused and lead multi-year studies that can change practice guidelines, elevate national standards and influence policy. 

“Both roles are critical,” Virginia Sun, PhD, MSN, RN, co-leader of Duarte, Calif.-based City of Hope’s Cancer Control and Populations Sciences Program and a professor in its department of population sciences and department of surgery, told Becker’s. “Hospitals need nurse scientists who can drive quick improvements in patient care through evidence-based practice, and they also need those conducting rigorous, longer-term research that can influence national standards. Nurse scientists like myself and my colleagues are fully embedded in leading independent research programs, securing external funding, conducting studies, disseminating our work and collaborating across disciplines. It’s very interdisciplinary, which is important because physicians and nurses already work closely together clinically, and our research collaborations mirror that.”

City of Hope has had nurse scientists embedded in cancer care for more than 50 years, and it is home to one of the few freestanding divisions of nursing research in a cancer center. Nurse scientists bridge the gap between bedside observations and research evidence, ensuring clinical questions translate into measurable outcomes. They partner with oncologists and surgeons on long-term trials, and mentor bedside nurses.

City of Hope has a number of studies in the works; one unit-based study is focused on evaluating different types of crash carts. 

“It may sound simple, but it’s incredibly important for efficiency and patient safety,” Dr. Sun said. “The project compared outcomes and staff feedback on different cart designs. The findings directly inform which carts are adopted hospital-wide based on what works best for patients, nurses and physicians.”

At Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., nurses are studying non-drug interventions for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy to improve quality of life. Another team is investigating whether sleep-promoting interventions can improve outcomes for patients with chronic illnesses, including cancer, Linda Chlan, PhD, RN, associate dean for nursing research at Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, told Becker’s. 

These are just a few of the dozens of studies nurse scientists are collaborating on within oncology. By combining curiosity with scientific rigor, nurse scientists are proving that some of the most transformative ideas in oncology start with a simple question: “Why are we doing it this way?”

“Nurses ask the best questions; they are closest to patients and see gaps in care firsthand,” Dr. Chlan said. “But to move from ‘I think this works better’ to real evidence, you need data.”