The developing role of the neuro-oncology nurse: A Dutch perspective

CONTEXT: This article describes the role of specialist nurses in care, cure and research for patients with brain tumours in the Netherlands. The responsibility of the specialist nurse is management of care during the disease process and its treatment and includes patient education, symptom management and follow-up. Re-allocation of tasks and responsibilities has led to the function of the nurse practitioner, who is responsible for medical treatment with oral chemotherapy. Nursing research in neuro-oncology is focused on specialist nurse functions, which conclude that most patients and relatives value specialist nurse support highly. This article discusses nursing research in relation to symptom clustering which is defined as symptoms that occur simultaneously, cluster together and, as a result, influence outcome such as quality of life, health status and functional status, important outcomes in neuro-oncology clinical trials. Finally, the development and validation of self-report measure instruments for these symptoms resulted in use in ran – domized controlled trials is explored.