Nursing Services
Professional nursing practice at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres (SKMCH&RC) in Lahore and Peshawar is promoted through membership of the Pakistan Cancer Nursing Forum affiliated with the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care and through membership of the Asia Pacific Hospice Network.
Nursing at SKMCH&RC offers much more than the traditional image of nursing. Nurses provide care to patients receiving complex treatment for their disease. In addition to educating patients and their families about their disease and its treatment, nurses also provide psychological support.
Our nurses play a major role in patient and family education. Patients are advised on what to expect during their stay in the hospital and after they are discharged. It also includes teaching them about various aspects of patient care including prescribed drugs and the side effects of those drugs, blood transfusions, how to look for signs of infection and bleeding, and dietary changes. Nursing Documentation facilitates care coordination for patients in a multidisciplinary team.
SKMCH&RC, Lahore and Peshawar are accredited by the Joint Commission International and the Nursing Division is also certified by ISO Quality Management. Nursing workforce is continually striving to be in compliance with the regulatory requirements and standards of accrediting bodies in order to provide best possible treatment to patients.
Nursing Division imparts its responsibilities in nearly all areas of the hospital.
- Inpatient Departments that cover Adult and Paediatric Oncology, Bone marrow transplantation, Peri-operative Nursing, Intensive Care Nursing, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Radiation Nursing, Nuclear Medicine Nursing and Palliative Care Nursing.
- In the Outpatient Department, the Chemotherapy bay and the Emergency Assessment Room (EAR) nursing provide a comprehensive service to support adult and paediatric patients.
- Specialist roles in nursing have been developed for providing supportive nursing in Infection Control, Nursing Risk Management/Quality Assurance, Breast Care Nursing, Palliative Care Nursing and Bone marrow transplant nursing. These new roles aim to provide specialised nursing care to improve the quality of care to patients and their families.
Professional Development / Educational Pathway:
All nurses must complete Induction and Orientation Programme, which equips them with the necessary skills to achieve a smooth start in their role in unique cancer care nursing practice. This programme is comprises of a series of workshops designed to enhance their practice, including:
- Core Competencies
- Basic Cardiac Life Support
- Cytotoxic Drug Administration
- Nursing Pharmacology and Drug Calculations
- Infection Control
- Nursing Risk Management & Quality Assurance
- Concepts of Service excellence.
Post Registration Nursing Programs
Nursing Division at SKMCH&RC, in accordance with the mission statement of the hospital and to fulfil the commitment towards professional growth and development of its nurses offers opportunities for their continuous education. Currently, three post-basic Diploma Programmes are offered according to the work experience and career interests of the staff.
- The Diploma in Oncology Nursing (DION)
- The Diploma in Perioperative Nursing
- The Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (DIPON)
In the year 2020, we introduced a Post RN BS Oncology Nursing Degree Programme, which aims to develop nursing leadership skills in Oncological Nursing and its related specialities. This programme is affiliated with the University of Health Sciences.
All three post-basic diploma programmes and the degree programmes are approved by Pakistan Nursing Council.