Partner meeting in Osijek: Overview of progress and next steps

Collaborative effort to enhance nursing education

In October, we gathered in Osijek, Croatia, for a partner meeting of the EduCanNURS project. The event brought together experts in cancer care undergraduate education from all partner organisations: Turku University of Applied Sciences, Galway University in Ireland, and Osijek University in Croatia. We were warmly welcomed by professor Martina Smolić and project expert Silvija Piškorjanac at the University of Osijek.

Improving cancer care education

The three-year EduCanNURS project is entering its second year with the goal of enhancing cancer care education across Europe. By improving undergraduate nursing education to be more evidence-based and patient-centred, the project aims to better equip future nurses in cancer care. Central to this initiative is the development of a digital toolkit that offers nursing educators easy access to high-quality materials, learning assignments, and assessment tools.

Family Crabtree: A real-world approach to cancer care

The educational materials in the digital toolkit are based on a fictional Crabtree family, whose story reflects the entire continuum of cancer care. This holistic approach helps nursing students better understand the complexities and human aspects of cancer care, from diagnosis to end-of-life care.

Intensive working days: Achievements and future plans

During our two intensive working days in Osijek, we reviewed the progress made in the project over the past year. One key area of focus was the analysis of cancer care curricula across the three partner universities. We also conducted a literature review to evaluate existing teaching materials, with plans to publish a scientific article on the findings soon. Based on these discussions, we drafted guidelines for the next stages of the project.

Glimpse into Osijek’s nursing education and cancer care

In addition to the project meetings, we had the opportunity to learn more about nursing education at the University of Osijek. We explored the university’s educational framework and visited the local hospital’s cancer and radiotherapy clinics, gaining valuable insights into the real-world application of cancer care.

Successful and inspiring meeting

Overall, the meeting in Osijek was a great success, fostering deeper collaboration and providing valuable perspectives on the development of cancer care education. As we look ahead, we are excited about the progress of the EduCanNURS project and the positive impact it will have on nursing education and cancer care in Europe.

We look forward to future meetings and continued advancements in improving cancer care education.

 

Best regards,
Isa, Tarja, and Anne-Mari
Turku UAS Content Experts