ASTRO 2026: Kayla Kafka-Peterson Advances Global Brachytherapy Nursing Care

At the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2026 Annual Meeting, brachytherapy nursing leaders highlighted international initiatives aimed at standardizing clinical protocols and closing long-standing educational gaps.

In an interview with Oncology Nursing News following her presentation, Kayla Kafka-Peterson, BSN, RN, ROCN, Nurse Navigator and Operations Coordinator for the High-Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), outlined a structured framework to empower brachytherapy nurses worldwide.

Presenting "Development and Implementation of National and International Brachytherapy Nursing Education Programs - Bridging a Global Gap in Oncology Nursing Education," Kafka-Peterson, who serves as Nursing Liaison to the Board for the American Brachytherapy Society, addressed the historical deficit of standardized nursing resources in radiation oncology.

Key Takeaways for Oncology Nursing Practice

• Regional Needs Assessments: Survey data from international nurses reveal that 80% to 85% of clinical questions regarding perioperative brachytherapy care remain consistent across diverse health systems.

• The Adopt-Adapt-Build Framework: A structured three-tiered implementation methodology enables clinical teams to build comprehensive department policies using international standards and hospital guidelines.
• Core Care Standardization: Immediate adoption of universal perioperative protocols addresses key clinical concerns, including patient positioning, pain management, and sterile field maintenance.
• Building Specialty Policies: Developing radiation oncology-specific protocols for source handling, patient flow, and pregnant staff safety provides necessary operational structure.

Conducting Foundational Needs Assessments

To overcome systemic educational gaps in brachytherapy, Kafka-Peterson emphasized gathering direct empirical data from frontline clinicians rather than imposing external assumptions.

Survey findings across international regions demonstrated remarkable clinical alignment regarding core nursing challenges, particularly surrounding patient positioning, pain management, and post-procedure sanitization.

"I get the information directly from the nurses first in a region needs assessment and that serves as a road map," Kafka-Peterson explained. "Now that we have some data, about 80% to 85% of our practice and questions are exactly the same, and that was a really reassuring thing for us that we were on the right track.”

Implementing the Adopt-Adapt-Build Methodology

To translate survey insights into standardized practice, Kafka-Peterson developed the "Adopt-Adapt-Build" methodology to guide clinical teams through policy construction.

First, departments adopt established international perioperative standards. Next, departments adapt existing hospital-wide policies. Finally, teams build specialized radiation oncology policies covering source handling, patient flow, and radiation safety.

"Before you know it, you have 30 to 45 policies where suddenly you have some structure to your program," Kafka-Peterson concluded.

References

1. Kafka-Peterson K. Development and Implementation of National and International Brachytherapy Nursing Education Programs - Bridging a Global Gap in Oncology Nursing Education. Presented at: American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 2026 Annual Meeting; September 26-30, 2026; Boston, MA. Session EDU 10.
2. American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). Kayla Kafka-Peterson, BSN, RN: Speaker Profile & Disclosures. ASTRO 2026 Annual Meeting Portal. Published September 2026. Accessed September 29, 2026. https://amportal.astro.org/kayla-kafka-peterson-bsn-rn-135338972