Training breast care nurses throughout Europe: The EONS postbasic curriculum for breast cancer nursing

BackgroundThe European Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer and the European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists state that there is a need for EU agreed guidelines on breast care nursing and training. Therefore the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) commissioned the development of a post-basic curriculum for breast cancer nursing.PurposeThe goal was to define a European curriculum for the training of breast care nurses.MethodsThe curriculum was developed using a variety of sources, including guidelines from a number of European and other countries world wide, relevant literature and input from an expert panel of senior European nurses with expertise in breast care nursing.ResultsAn English language, European curriculum of breast care nursing was developed at a postbasic level to provide guidance for the training of breast care nurses throughout Europe. Definitions for breast care nurse roles and activities and levels of practice, as well as indicative content are provided.ConclusionsThe training of nurses in breast cancer care should be mandatory and common practice for European countries. To enhance comparability and standard development, the indicative content should be applied in all future post-basic education.