Highlights from the 2024 POGO Symposium: Through a Nurse’s Lens
By Denise Mills
This year, the POGO Multidisciplinary Symposium on Childhood Cancer took an exciting road trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake, where Ontario’s pediatric oncology community gathered to connect, collaborate, and learn. POGO partner hospitals were well represented, including the five centres with specialized childhood cancer programs and eight POGO Satellite Clinic locations. Over 60 nurses participated in this impactful event! While we can’t relive the Symposium, here are a few key takeaways from the sessions.
Lee Dupuis: The Power of the Patient's Voice in Symptom Management
Lee Dupuis delivered a powerful closing presentation on the critical role of the patient’s voice in improving symptom management. She explained how we define the "patient's voice," how to elicit it from pediatric patients, and why it’s essential to listen and respond effectively to improve care. Lee shared compelling results from a recent trial conducted in the US and Canada, which randomized symptom screening against usual care.
The findings were clear and will be shared in an upcoming publication. For more insights into symptom assessment tools, explore SSPedi and Spark here: Symptom Assessment Tools.
Lee also emphasized the importance of implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in our clinical practices, such as the Spark Clinical Care Pathways. For more information on CPGs, visit the POGO Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Nicole Culos-Reed: Exercise and Fatigue Management in Pediatric Oncology
Nicole Culos-Reed's session highlighted POGO’s updated CPG recommending physical activity as an effective intervention for fatigue in children and adolescents with cancer. Nicole explored the benefits of exercise during treatment, such as protecting muscle strength, improving immune function, and managing common side effects. She also discussed the long-term importance of physical activity after treatment, including its impact on cognitive function, cardiac health, bone mineral density, and the risk of metabolic syndromes.
To learn more about her POEM program (Pediatric Oncology Exercise Manual) and the IMPACT intervention for physical activity during treatment, visit POEM & IMPACT.
Agnes Wong: The Art and Science of Compassion
Agnes Wong led an inspiring session that guided us through the components of compassion, emphasizing the importance of mental and emotional training for healthcare providers. Agnes also underscored the need for self-compassion as a prerequisite for effectively caring for others. She challenged us to consider how compassion training should be integrated at a systems level, in institutions, and in professional training programs.
For those interested in further developing their compassionate practices, Agnes shared a valuable resource: the Mindfulness & Compassion Training Program at the Sarana Institute.
We hope you find these highlights inspiring and insightful. Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the success of the 2024 POGO Symposium!
Reflective Practice IS Nursing Practice
By: Arvinder Aulakh, Jessica Brooks
“Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses…we must be learning all of our lives.”
Clearly, Florence Nightingale had early insights into the importance of continual professional growth and development. Reflective practice is foundational within pediatric hematology/oncology nursing, enhancing team collaboration, improving care standards, and supporting nurses’ emotional well-being. This offers multifaceted benefits for nurses, their young patients, and the families they care for.
Pediatric hematology/oncology nursing is a profession that embraces collaboration through reflecting on shared experiences and challenges. Reflective practice allows nurses to contribute to the collective knowledge base by critically evaluating their current practices to drive evidence-based practices. Engaging with nurses with different experiences allows for dialogue that contributes to holistic patient care, team learning, and improved communication.
Patient care outcomes are improved through reflective practice. Personal values and beliefs can indirectly and unknowingly affect patient care. Reflective practice provides insights into nurses’ strengths and challenges contributing to better clinical acumen, empathetic communication, and emotional resiliency. Through this, professional growth and development are achieved, allowing for higher standards of patient care.
It is well understood through literature and lived experience that caring for seriously ill children can lead to burnout and compassion fatigue. Reflective practice empowers nurses by enhancing their self-awareness through professional reflection, facilitating peer support through group discussion, and promoting empathy and compassion by providing a safe and non-judgmental environment. Supporting nurses’ well-being through group self-reflection promotes enhanced job satisfaction.
There are many guidelines and frameworks that can be used when doing a reflective practice. When engaging in reflection, nurses should consider these key aspects:
- Description of experience: Recall the important events and features by giving a clear, non-judgmental and comprehensive account of the experience. Experiences may include describing a challenging patient interaction, a successful teamwork experience, or any other significant event.
- Evaluation: Take a “look back” and think about the importance of that experience. What went well? What were the challenges? How did these moments impact patient care, team dynamics, or your personal feelings about work?
- Analysis: An opportunity to critically think about the experience using theory and research. This could include analyzing communication strategies, ethical dilemmas, or case studies that highlight successes and challenges.
- Future action: The experience is summarized to help gain personal insights and determine any next steps. What will you continue to do? What will you change? Setting specific and measurable goals can guide your growth.
Consider incorporating reflective practice into staff meetings, evaluations, and group discussions. Through this, professional development is enhanced because reflective practice IS nursing practice!
About the Authors
Arvinder Aulakh and Jessica Brooks are POGO Interlink Nurses working at SickKids. Learn more about the POGO Interlink Nursing Program.
Spotlight on Tanya Hobson: A Dedicated Advocate for Pediatric Oncology Families in Northern Ontario
Introducing Tanya
For Tanya Hobson, a POGO nurse based at Health Sciences North in Sudbury, caring for young patients with cancer goes far beyond clinical responsibilities. As both a pediatric oncology Satellite Clinic nurse and AfterCare Clinic case manager, Tanya provides essential support for families navigating the challenges of childhood cancer treatment and survivorship in Northern Ontario.
Behind the Care: Tanya’s Daily Impact
In her dual role, Tanya fills her days with clinical duties like, chemotherapy administration and assessments, as well as emotional support that carries into AfterCare. "During treatment, our focus is on helping children manage side effects and supporting families through the process," she says. Post-treatment, her work shifts to help survivors address the long-term effects of cancer treatment, with a special emphasis on maintaining health and well-being for years to come. Reflecting on her work, Tanya shares, “We make a real difference to these families—our work is so valued."
A Unique Path to Pediatric Oncology
Tanya’s path to this role reflects her passion and deep commitment. Initially pursuing medical school, she shifted to nursing to seek a more hands-on, patient-focused career. She gained valuable experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto for over a decade before moving to Sudbury and discovering her true passion in pediatric oncology. Since then, she has built lasting connections with patients and families in her community, something that she finds deeply rewarding.
Overcoming Challenges in Northern Ontario
Northern Ontario’s vast geography presents unique challenges for healthcare access. Some of Tanya’s patients live up to seven hours away, making trips to the clinic daunting. This distance, coupled with sometimes unpredictable weather and limited access to immediate healthcare resources, requires tailored care that Tanya and her team strive to deliver with dedication.
Addressing Mental Health in Pediatric Oncology
One pressing issue in pediatric oncology, Tanya notes, is the growing need for mental health support. As childhood cancer survival rates improve, families and survivors grapple with the psychological impact of a cancer journey, often extending beyond the treatment phase. Tanya believes integrating mental health support into standard of care is crucial, starting at diagnosis and continuing through survivorship.
Proud Achievements and a Lasting Impact
Reflecting on recent meaningful experiences, Tanya is proud of her recent Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification in Oncology and completion of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider Course. Both credentials affirm her commitment to best practices and a high standard of care for her patients. But her greatest achievement, she shares, came when a former patient recently told her he was pursuing nursing because of the care he received from her. “It was lovely to hear the impact we make,” Tanya says, smiling.
Closing Reflections
In her 10 years in Sudbury, Tanya remains inspired by the resilience of her patients and families. Each day, she brings a compassionate approach to a field she feels called to, embodying POGO’s mission to ensure children with cancer and their families receive the best possible support—no matter where they live.
