Introduction: The Australian Cancer Nursing and Navigation Program (ACNNP) will increase the number of specialist cancer nurses (SCNs) across Australia. As SCNs come into new roles with diverse qualifications and experiences in oncology, a tool that can be used to assess skill level is needed in order to provide appropriate education and training to a growing workforce. Thus, this study aimed to develop and psychometrically test a tool that assesses cancer nursing skills.
Methods: A three-phase study was conducted to develop a comprehensive Cancer Nurse Self-Assessment Tool (CaN-SAT). Phase 1: An expert working group consisting of cancer nurses, nurse educators and cancer consumers was formed to develop initial domains and item content. Phase 2: A modified Delphi process was used to assess the importance of each domain in the tool with a diverse group of cancer nursing experts. The Content Validation Index (CVI) was used to assess the relevance and clarity of items, with CVI of 0.78 required for an item to be included in the final tool. Items scoring less than 0.78 were revised or removed based on open-ended comments. Phase 3: The tools were tested for reliability and construct validity with SCNs affiliated with the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia.
Results: The initial draft CaN-SAT consisted of 94 total items across 15 domains of nursing practice. To date, 14 cancer nursing experts have participated in the first round of the modified Delphi (41.2% of invited participants). Further reliability and validity testing is ongoing and will be completed by October 2024.
Conclusion: The CaN-SAT is a comprehensive tool specifically designed for the Australian specialist cancer nurse context. Using this tool that identifies current skill level and learning needs, tailored education can be provided to upskill cancer nurses and ensure optimal care for patients.