Cancer nursing services in Scotland: Are we ready to meet the challenge?

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Abstract
The care of patients with cancer, from diagnosis to terminal care, demands the support of a multidisciplinary team in both hospital and community settings. To deliver effective care, all professional groups involved in the care of such patients require a high degree of specialist knowledge. This knowledge can be acquired only through the integration of education and clinical practice. While there have been significant advances in the management of cancer and in the palliation of symptoms this does not appear to have been reflected in the provision of nurse education in cancer care in Scotland. This paper presents results from a national survey of directors of nursing in Scotland. The study aimed to establish the current situation in relation to the availability of appropriately educated nurses providing cancer care to patients in Scotland.