Focus Group Explores the Experiences of Nurses Post Cancer Diagnosis
A recent focus group study published on Nursing Outlook examines the unique return-to-work experiences and challenges nurses face post cancer diagnosis. The team included researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Bridgeside lab resident Ketki Raina, Ph.D.
Image: Unsplash/ Clay Banks
The study analyzed five focus groups, each containing two to five female nurses, for a total of 17 participants. The participants were asked research-informed, open-ended questions on how cancer, healthcare, support systems, and the workplace affected their experiences returning to work.
In their responses, four major themes were identified:
Motivation, incentives, and the need to return to work
Setbacks hindering the return
Navigating new work dynamics
Evolving professional role during return to work
Within the theme of motivation, incentives, and the need to work, nurses named financial stability, personal fulfillment, and the supportive work environment their primary motivation for returning to the workforce. While facing challenges dealing with cancer symptoms at work, participants also reported difficulties in the experiences of medical leave and employee benefits, as well as anxieties about their health, privacy, and colleagues' reactions. Finally, although some nurses' emotions became triggered while working, others found that their experience with cancer helped them become more compassionate caregivers and build stronger relationships with patients.
The findings emphasize the experiences and challenges nurses encounter and provide information for future research and policy to advance nurses' professional well-being and quality of life after cancer diagnosis.
Read more here.