Advancing knowledge for haemato-oncology nursing practice

Nurses working in haemato-oncology require specialised knowledge and yet, formal education programmes and textbooks devoted to the speciality are limited. In advancing knowledge for haemato-oncology nursing practice this project endeavours to develop, synthesise, organise and disseminate available evidence making it more accessible to practising nurses. The project consists of two inter-related parts: reflection on, and critique of, the development and editing of the second edition of a nursing textbook and a Delphi study of research priorities in haemato-oncology nursing included as a chapter of the textbook.
In aiming to expand and advance the knowledge base for nurses working in haematooncology the concept of knowledge, ways of acquiring knowledge and types of nursing
knowledge are explored and critically analysed. A textbook is mainly a source of empirical knowledge but ways of encouraging the development of other forms of relevant knowledge are discussed in relation to the format of the textbook. Critical reflection on the development of the textbook is also undertaken to detennine usefulness and value.
Development of the first edition of the textbook and analysis of existing literature in haemato-oncology nursing highlighted the paucity of research informing the speciality. This provided the incentive to undertake the Delphi study. Round 1 generated a wide range of research topics, subsequently used to develop the questionnaire for round 2. Round 2 results demonstrated close clustering and little discrimination between research topics. Round 3 was therefore undertaken to increase the reliability and credibility of results and further discriminate between research priorities. Results from rounds 2 and 3 were remarkably consistent with several strong research themes emerging. These themes provide the foundations for the development of a research strategy with the potential to further advance knowledge for haemato-oncology nursing practice.