Children's Oncology Group 2023 blueprint: Nursing discipline

Abstract

In contrast to other Children's Oncology Group (COG) committees, the COG nursing discipline is unique in that it provides the infrastructure necessary for nurses to support COG clinical trials and implements a research agenda aimed at scientific discovery. This hybrid focus of the discipline reflects the varied roles and expertise within pediatric oncology clinical trials nursing that encompass clinical care, leadership, and research. Nurses are broadly represented across COG disease, domain, and administrative committees, and are assigned to all clinically focused protocols. Equally important is the provision of clinical trials‐specific education and training for nurses caring for patients on COG trials. Nurses involved in the discipline's evidence‐based practice initiative have published a wide array of systematic reviews on topics of clinical importance to the discipline. Nurses also develop and lead research studies within COG, including stand‐alone studies and aims embedded in disease/ treatment trials. Additionally, the nursing discipline is charged with responsibility for developing patient/family educational resources within COG. Looking to the future, the nursing discipline will continue to support COG clinical trials through a multifaceted approach, with a particular focus on patient‐reported outcomes and health equity/disparities, and development of interventions to better understand and address illness‐related distress in children with cancer.