As the air turns crisper and we to move into autumn, it is important to remember to take care of both our physical health and our mental well-being. Although the flu shot might not be in the forefront of everybody’s mind this season, it remains vital that oncology nurses continue to receive their regular immunizations to keep themselves and their patients healthy and strong. Our Nurse’s Note addresses the importance of vaccinations for oncology nurses, and our 

 examines the ethical considerations of mandating the COVID-19 vaccine in health care spaces.

With the change of weather and holidays right around the corner, saving and spending become more top of mind. Our Medical Economics section offers insight into the holistic approach of applying positive psychology to financial planning to discover your unique blueprint for well-being in life.

As always, our Medical World News section keeps you up-to-date on the most relevant FDA approvals in oncology treatment. 

, we highlight belumosudil (Rezurock) and dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli). In addition, in our Clinical Insights section, read about the latest updates in renal cell carcinoma and the importance of personalized screenings in breast cancer.

As oncology care continues to become more complex, the value of a nurse practitioner degree increases. Transitioning from RN to NP, however, can be difficult. In this issue’s APP column, 

 takes a look at the hematology/oncology nurse practitioner fellowship at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and how advanced practiced fellowship programs help provide the training that new nurse practitioners need to excel.

Amid seemingly endless change, one thing remains constant: the oncology nurse’s dedication to patients. In this issue, we recognize the accomplishments of 2 extraordinary nurses in our Oncology Nurse Champion section: Christina Kirk, RN, MSN, AOCNP, of UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Amelia Mercer, BSN, RN, CBCN, OCN, of Rush University Cancer Center.

 offers strategies that pediatric oncology nurses can use to help reduce fear and anxiety in children and adolescents with cancer. From explaining certain procedures involving medical equipment like a stethoscope to using play therapy or meditation techniques to calm emotions, oncology nurses play a pivotal role in anticipating and reducing stressors for this patient population.

As always, thank you for your service—and for reading.

Articles

A note from the chairman and founder about the October 2021 issue of Oncology Nursing News®

Fall Into Better Health and Financial Practices

Oncology nurses embody the meaning of excellent supportive care. And in this issue, we celebrate 2 oncology nurses who have exemplified excellence not only in their daily practices but especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In our Oncology Nursing Champion section, we recognize the accomplishments of Lisa Cusaac, MSN, RN, OCN, of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, and Kathleen Lutz, NP, NP-BC WH, of NYU Langone Health.

Welcoming work environments foster nurses who work to the best of their ability. Our cover story on oncology nurse bullying and violence in the workplace addresses questions regarding nurse safety and offers insights into how to maximize safety and security to ensure the happiness and productivity of the oncology nurses who work there.

Also in this issue, we dive into how playing music can positively affect a patient’s experience during painful procedures and we explore how meditation can help combat burnout for health care providers working in hospice settings. We urge readers to be on the lookout for altered mental states—their own and that of their friends, family, and colleagues—following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our continuing education (CE) section covers updates presented at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. Head over to OncNursingNews.com after reading the content and take the online quiz to earn CE credit. Our goal at 

® is to keep nurses up-to-date not only on the latest clinical advancements but also on the evolving world of health care in general. Our medical economics section takes a hard look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the health care industry. We also detail recent notable FDA approvals in our Medical World News® section.

Burnout and mental distress are prevalent in health care settings and can bring a load of heavy consequences. If you or your coworkers have experienced stress and fatigue, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, 

Read on for information to help identify signs, combat distress, and create healthy work environments to protect yourself and your team.

Oncology nurses embody the meaning of excellent supportive care. 

Oncology Nurses Are  Champions Every Day

Was it natural zoonotic spillover that catapulted SARS-CoV-2 from an emerging virus into a pandemic pathogen or was it something much more sinister? Is it at all possible that a lab leak in Wuhan, China, was the spark that lit the fuse?

Debate and discussion about the origin of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been at the forefront of the global consciousness since the first cases were reported in December 2019.

Early on, whispers of a potentially engineered virus quickly grew to a roar and fueled speculation that China was behind the pandemic. This narrative was so pervasive that, in February 2020, a group of 27 public health scientists 

 disputing the lab leak theory and announcing their support of their counterparts in China: the scientists, public health officials, and medical professionals combating the pandemic.

“The rapid, open, and transparent sharing of data on this outbreak is now being threatened by rumors and misinformation around its origins,” wrote the authors, who all declared no competing interests in their disclosures as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. “We stand together to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin.”

And although it’s true that analyses of the genomic sequence of the virus subsequently pointed to natural origins, the questions regarding China’s role persisted, led by pesky discrepancies and conflicting reports.

Fast forward to June 2021 and new evidence that has breathed new life into those origin questions. In an update to the February 2020 letter, 

 an addendum with revised disclosure statements from virologist and investigator Peter Daszak, one of the 27 authors. In the revised document, Daszak noted that his remuneration is paid solely in the form of a salary from EcoHealth Alliance, a New York-based nonprofit research foundation of which he is president. The company has reportedly worked directly with Wuhan laboratories and funded gain-of-function research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Consider, too, other odd associations. Recent reports have uncovered financial ties between Google and EcoHealth Alliance. This comes after accusations that the tech giant was censoring lab leak “conspiracy theory” stories in its search results. Google’s health lead, David Feinberg, has dismissed those reports, insisting that the company is simply taking steps to protect users from unverified information.

Are these coincidences or “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” situations? It’s unclear. But they add to the bank of troublesome questions standing in the way of the truth about COVID-19.

The questions extend beyond origin theory, though. With the US Food and Drug Administration’s green lighting of vaccines for adolescents and young adults comes hesitation over long-term effects: What is the effect on fertility? Do the vaccines cause heart inflammation? Dr. Robert Malone, the inventor of the mRNA technology, appeared on television recently, expressing strong concern over the risk-benefit analysis of vaccination for young adults, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently met to discuss instances of myocarditis or pericarditis in people aged 30 and younger who have received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Of course, the answer to our ultimate question is that we may never know.

We may never know where this virus came from. We may never know what triggered the global pandemic that has claimed more than 3.8 million lives. And we won’t know the long-term effects until enough time has elapsed. What we do know for certain is that the incredible strength and collaboration of the scientific community have allowed us to regain some semblance of normalcy. The development and rollout of multiple effective vaccine options have been the medical miracle of our lifetime.

That, right now, will have to be the only answer that matters.

Is it at all possible that a lab leak in Wuhan, China, was the spark that lit the fuse?

Questions Linger Around COVID-19’s Origin 

It’s been more than a decade since the Institute of Medicine recommended that all cancer survivors receive survivorship care plans, yet many patients still do not receive them. Transitioning out of active cancer treatment can be nerve-racking for many people, but oncology nurses can help by bringing up survivorship care plans early and often with their patients, as well as helping them navigate the often-confusing healthcare system when they are ready to return to their primary care physicians. We explore this important topic in our cover story, “Cancer Survivorship: Right-Sizing Care.”

After treatment, many survivors also develop anxiety around their cancer coming back. This fear of recurrence can be debilitating for people who experience it, and it can have major psychosocial implications. In this issue’s Nurse’s Note, editor in chief Deborah A. Boyle, MSN, RN, AOCNS, FAAN, tackles this important topic, which is all too prevalent in the cancer community. Boyle offers tips that nurses can pass on to patients, and she stresses the importance of bringing up the subject. Even if patients don’t broach the topic themselves, it may still be top of mind.

Our 2 Partner Perspectives also touch on how nurses can aid patients who are experiencing stress and anxiety. One, from our partners at CancerCare, focuses on cancer as trauma, because a diagnosis can definitely qualify as a traumatizing and life-changing event. The other, from Cancer Support Community, focuses on tools, resources, and coping mechanisms that nurses can offer patients facing psychosocial distress.

Also in this issue, our Continuing Education section features updates from the 

, hosted by Physicians’ Education Resource

, LLC, which covered everything nursing professionals need to know, from tumor type basics to adverse event management.

 is enjoyable and helps nurses better help their patients.

The September issue of Oncology Nursing News® offers a wealth of information on how oncology nurses can help their patients navigate psychosocial issues, from the moment of diagnosis and beyond.

Mike Hennessy, Sr, Chairman

Articles

Fall Into Better Health and Financial Practices

Oncology Nurses Are Champions Every Day

Questions Linger Around COVID-19’s Origin

Nurses Can Address Psychosocial Needs, From Diagnosis to Survivorship