Breast Care Nursing: Foundations for Practice

This course has been run in conjunction with La Trobe University for 10 years with over 600 nurses graduating as accredited Breast Care Nurses throughout Australia.

The subject  'Breast Care Nursing: Foundations for Practice' (previously known as Breast Cancer Disease Entity in Nursing Practice) has been completely revised and updated in preparation for the 2009 university year. This subject has been accredited with Royal College of Nursing Australia and positively evaluated by the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer which will inevitably lift the profile of the Breast Care Nurse throughout the Australian community.

This subject can be included as 1 requisite unit of the 'Graduate Certificate in Breast Care Nursing' (3 units in total) or the 'Postgraduate Diploma of Nursing Science in Breast Care' (6 units in total). Please forward enquiries to La Trobe University for other units offered in these courses.

Ten topics were developed after consultation with consumers and nurses working in the area of breast cancer. Each session has been written in a practical manner so that learning will directly enhance clinical practice.

An introductory day will be run at the Cancer Council to outline the subject and assessment requirements in detail. This will also be an opportunity to begin 'networking' with other participants. Alternatively, an introductory teleconference will be organised for interstate students. 

Overview and rationale of Program

One in ten Australian women will have breast cancer in their life time and many nurses work in specialist nurse roles providing information, support and referral to people affected by breast cancer. This subject has arisen from the need for uniformity in the provision of high standards of care and to promote the Breast Care Nurse role within the clinical and community settings.

The Cancer Council and La Trobe University worked in collaboration to develop an innovative and comprehensive learning tool to cater for specialist nurse practice needs. 

Aim and outline of the subject

The aim of this distance education Graduate Diploma subject is for the student to explore nursing practice as it is related to breast cancer. At the completion of this subject, the student will obtain a broad knowledge base of breast cancer along the continuum of genesis to death.

This will be achieved by examining the pathophysiology of the breast and lymphatic system, therefore addressing the treatment and management of breast cancer. The focus will be on an overview of theories of grief and loss associated with nursing a woman with breast cancer. The student will become competent in an extensive range of effective communication skills, and will be able to address complex issues related to sexuality and breast cancer. 

Entry requirements

All students must be registered nurses (Division 1). 

Program structure

The ten session topics for this subject were developed after consultation with nurses working in the area of breast cancer and consumers from the Breast Cancer Action Group and the Breast Cancer Support Group.

1. Role of the Breast Care Nurse including:
   • defining the role of the breast care nurse
   • providing practical assistance to a woman with breast cancer regarding the purchase of a breast prosthesis
   • establishing, developing and promoting the role of the Breast Care Nurse in clinical practice
2. Breast cancer and the Australian Cancer Councils including:
   • the function of Breast Cancer Support Services
   • Cancer Council literature available to women with breast cancer
   • a summary of the role of a Cancer Connect peer support volunteer
   • services of Cancer Councils which specifically support women with breast cancer
3. Management of early breast cancer including:
   • a comprehensive overview of medical, surgical and adjuvant treatment options available to women with early breast cancer
4. Locally advanced and metastatic breast cancer including:
   • psychological impact and treatments offered to women experiencing a breast cancer recurrence
   • hypercalcaemia and malignant pleural effusions related to metastatic breast disease
   • effective pain assessment principles and practices
5. Lymphoedema and breast cancer including:
   • pathophysiology of lymphatic system
   • management of lymphoedema in acute and palliative setting
   • psychosocial needs of a woman with lymphoedema
6. Communicating with a woman with breast cancer including:
   • basic skills which enhance effective communication in the clinical setting
   • personal or professional barriers which may prevent successful communication in the clinical setting
7. Psychosocial support issues including:
   • social support and psychological morbidity
   • the complexity of emotional responses to breast cancer
   • supporting a person through a crisis
8. Sexuality and breast cancer including:
   • physical side effects of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal manipulation and how they could affect a woman's sexuality
   • physical changes which may affect the sexual needs of post menopausal women with breast cancer
   • strategies to reduce or prevent physical and psychological problems related to breast cancer treatment and management
9. Grief, loss and breast cancer including:
   • grief and loss in relation to breast cancer
   • normal and abnormal grieving processes
   • nursing strategies to support a person experiencing bereavement
10. Palliative care
    • a practical guide to caring for the dying patient, including communicating with a dying person and her carers about the dying process; pain and symptom control principles and practices.

Delivery modes of The Program

The subject 'Breast Care Nursing: Foundations for Practice' is offered as a distance education program with:

• an eight-hour orientation day (for Victorian students only)
• an orientation to the subject via teleconference (country or interstate students only), a further two teleconferences will be offered to country/interstate students for educational support during the subject
• telephone contact with the program coordinator/s available two days per week
• one eight-hour mandatory clinical placement related to care of women with breast cancer (for example, with an experienced Breast Care Nurse, with a trained breast cancer volunteer, etc)
• clinical update sessions following successful completion of the subject.

Fee

AUD $1550. The fee covers the cost of a study guide and selected readings, academic support, assessment and the certificate.

Certification

Successful students are awarded a Cancer Council Accredited Breast Care Nurse certificate.

Intake dates

Enrolment must be completed by 23 January 2009 (for semester 1) and 15 June 2009 (for semester 2).

Application procedure

Please complete BOTH the application forms, La Trobe University Single Unit Enrolment Form and the School of Nursing and Midwifery Supplementary Application Form, provide all relevant supporting documentation and forward applications to:

• Postgraduate Courses Officer
  School of Nursing and Midwifery
  La Trobe University
  BUNDOORA VIC 3086
  

Or contact:

• Email: nurrec@latrobe.edu.au
• Phone: 61 3 9479 5950

Education days

Education days are held twice a year for breast care nurses.

Enquiries

For further information about the Breast Cancer Nurse Distance Education Program please contact:

Administrative Officer
La Trobe/Austin Health Clinical School of Nursing
Phone: 61 3 9479 5908
Fax: 61 3 9479 5988
Email: nurrec@latrobe.edu.au
Web: www.latrobe.edu.au/nursing

Program Coordinator
The Cancer Council Victoria
Phone: 61 3 9635 5244
Email: bcndlp@cancervic.org.au

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