GUWAHATI: Tata Trusts has launched a first-of-its-kind Nursing Fellowship Programme (NFP) to upskill Registered Nurses (RNs) as Oncology Specialist Nurses (OSNs). Nurses who join Tata Trusts' Cancer Care programme, depending upon their competencies, will be eligible for the Fellowship. RNs, who are already a part of the Cancer Care Programme, are presently being covered by the Fellowship. This is being provided free of cost, with the aim of providing an opportunity for the Cancer Care Programme's professional nurses to develop specialized knowledge, skills and experience in Oncology Nursing. The eleven month long programme will comprise of 144 hours of classroom training, and 2160 hours of clinical training along with concurrent assessments.
To begin with, the Nursing Fellowship has been introduced in Assam, where Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF), an initiative of the Government of Assam and Tata Trusts, is at present, developing a network of 10 cancer care hospitals. Going forward, the programme will be introduced across Tata Trusts' Cancer Care Programme Centres across India, stated a release.
"Assam has one of the highest incidents of cancer in India. We are already working on developing cancer care infrastructure. The Nursing Fellowship Programme will meet our need for skilled oncology nurses, who are the mainstay for any successful healthcare programme. The first batch of NFP has already begun at Assam Cancer Care Foundation at Guwahati and has 11 incumbents," added Dr. Sajal Sen, HOCS, ACCF.
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