Further training in oncology nursing at Heidelberg University Hospital has a very recent history. The history described here does not only refer to the situation at Heidelberg University Hospital, but is closely linked to the establishment of specialist oncology nursing in Germany and would like to expressly emphasize the need for trained personnel in the care of people with cancer.

In September 2023, the 26th two-year, part-time course of this oncological training will start in Heidelberg.

Three participants in the oncological training programme are awarded the KOK Nursing Prize at the KOK annual congress in Berlin.
Kerstin Menges was awarded 1st prize for her final thesis entitled: ‘The role of nursing staff in caring for relatives of dying cancer patients in the inpatient setting of an oncology ward’,
2nd prize went to Christian Singh for her thesis on the topic: ‘What patients can do in their everyday lives to combat chemotherapy-induced peripheral polyneuropathy (CIPN)’ and
3rd prize went to Jan Polzer for his thesis on the topic: ‘Optimising care for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer’

Annekathrin Wieland is awarded 2nd place in the KOK Nursing Prize at the 8th KOK Annual Congress in Berlin for her term paper on ‘Clinical nutrition of visceral surgery patients’.

Course 16/18 goes on a study trip to the Scheidegg rehabilitation clinic near Lake Constance.

The 20th Heidelberg Oncology Nursing Congress will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ‘Nursing care for people with cancer and chronic illnesses’ training programme.

Maria Dittmar from course 14/16 is presented with the KOK Nursing Prize 2016 at the 6th Annual Congress of the KOK in Berlin. This was for her term paper on the topic: ‘Shadow children in paediatric oncology - what support options can the inpatient setting offer?

Course 14/16 goes on a study trip to Zurich with guided tours and lectures at Zurich University Hospital.

Course 13/15 went on a study trip to Amsterdam/Netherlands. A guided tour of the Academic Medical Center (AMC) took in the visceral surgical oncology ward, the paediatric department and a visit to the Vrolik Museum. The exchange with the Dutch colleague was about the tasks of oncological specialist care at the AMC, staffing, the conditions of oncological care and the procedure of euthanasia.

Marion Bührer-Röck from course 10/12 is presented with the KOK Nursing Prize 2013 at the 3rd Annual Congress of the KOK in Berlin for her term paper on ‘Prostate carcinoma: How affected is the partner?’.

Course 12/14 visited the Inselspital in Bern/Switzerland as part of a study trip. Highlights included the specialist development and research department, the implementation of the Advanced Practise Nurse role concept, the patient education concept and the implementation of the palliative care concept at Inselspital. Of course, Bern had a lot to offer culturally and the dip in the River Aare was very refreshing.

  • The study trip for course 10/12 goes to Zurich/Switzerland with a visit to the University Hospital and the Careum University of Applied Sciences. The main topics of discussion will be: Qualification of oncology nurses in Switzerland, the career model at Zurich University Hospital, the range of tasks of nurses in oncology, staff recruitment and staffing in oncology nursing, organisation of the oncology day clinic and euthanasia in Switzerland.
  • On 1 June, the 14th two-year part-time course is welcomed. For the first time, two geriatric nurses will also begin their training on this course. This is the first time in the whole of Germany that geriatric nurses have completed this course.

Project ‘KoMPASS Nurse’ for patient-centred communication is offered in further training.

The 09/11 course is going on a study trip to Utrecht in Holland. Highlights are: Case management, continuity of care, teamwork, status of nursing, oncological nursing research, nurse staffing, range of activities of specialised nurses in oncology, Snouzelenkammer and the Nurse Practitioner course.

Julia Knauber from the 07/09 course is awarded the third prize of the Oncological Nursing Prize 2010 at the 29th German Cancer Congress for her term paper on the topic: ‘Oncological specialist nursing - an unused resource? Development of a concept for the efficient deployment of oncological specialist nursing staff in paediatric oncology’.

The collective bargaining partners of the university hospitals in Baden-Württemberg have decided on a pay rise for nurses with this further training from E 7a to E 9a in the TV-UK. These are gross increases of € 252 - € 289, depending on the level. In addition, a €100 workload bonus was approved for the special workload situation. This success can be attributed in part to a petition by participants in this further training programme.

With the start of the 11th two-year part-time course, the training centre gains two additional employees, Cordula Beisel and Anja Rohleder.

Anja Rohleder from the 05/07 course was awarded the 2008 Oncological Nursing Prize at the 28th German Cancer Congress for her term paper on the topic: ‘Introduction of the Oral Assessment Guide according to Eilers on a radio-oncological ward’.

Course 03/05 undertakes a study trip to St. Gallen in Switzerland. Highlights are: Role of carers in prevention, palliative care concept, family counselling and exchange with oncology course in St. Gallen.

Christoph Harz from course 01/03 was awarded the KOK Nursing Prize 2004 at the 26th German Cancer Congress for his term paper on the topic: ‘Spes viva - in living hope’.

Heidelberg University Hospital is recognised by the Karlsruhe Regional Council as a further training centre for oncology. This renewed recognition was required by the state law and thus creates the prerequisites and framework for the specialised further training course ‘Nursing care of the chronically ill person with cancer’.06/2002

In Baden-Württemberg, the legal ordinance on further training in the professions of nursing, paediatric nursing and geriatric nursing in the field of oncology in accordance with Section 16 of the State Nursing Act comes into force.

A total of four post-qualification seminars for nursing staff with 10 years of professional experience in oncology and for nursing staff with 5 years of professional experience in oncology are offered as part of the transitional regulations from the DKG's further training recommendations for nursing in oncology.

The EONS publishes an accreditation guide for the recognition of continuing education courses.

At the invitation of the EONS and with financial support from the EU, the 2nd edition of the basic curriculum for a further training programme for qualified nurses in oncology is being developed in Dublin, thus creating an updated European standard for this further training. Burkhard Lebert from Heidelberg University Hospital and Axel Doll from Humboldt University in Berlin, both graduates of this training programme, will be taking part as German representatives.

The German Hospital Federation (DKG) publishes recommendations for specialist further training in ‘Nursing in Oncology’.

Lectures by Burkhard Lebert at the 22nd German Cancer Congress in Berlin and at the 15th Annual Conference of Tumour Centres, Oncology Focal Points and Oncology Working Groups in Baden-Württemberg (ATO Conference) on the topic of ‘Specialist further training in oncology care: specialisation for the few - benefit for the many?’ put the brakes on further specialisation ideas in oncology further training.

Burkhard Lebert takes over the management of the advanced training course ‘Care of tumour patients and the severely chronically ill’.

Start of the 1st two-year training course ‘Nursing care for tumour patients and the severely chronically ill’.

Heidelberg University Hospital's application for recognition as a state-approved training centre for the care of tumour patients and the severely chronically ill is approved by the Karlsruhe Regional Council. This makes it the first state-recognised training centre for this two-year part-time course in Germany.

Start of the 4th one-year course.

The European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) is developing the European basic curriculum for an advanced course in nursing care for cancer patients on behalf of the EU and as part of the ‘Europe against Cancer’ programme. Germany was represented by Alrun Sensmeyer from the Surgical University Hospital in Heidelberg and Lore Kroeker from the German Professional Association for Nursing (DBfK).

In Ravensburg, the Oncology Advisory Board of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Social Affairs approves the concept of the further training regulations drawn up by the working group (Alrun Sensmeyer, Prof. Schlag, Dr Schwarz).

Start of the third one-year course.

Start of the second one-year course.

Negotiations with the BMA to continue the course with the addition ‘chronically ill’. As a result, further funding from the BMA.

Start of the 1st one-year further training course.

EC initiates the ‘Europe against Cancer’ campaign, which is supported in Germany by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. In this context, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in Bonn agrees to support an in-service training course for oncology nurses in Heidelberg.

Presentation and publication of the basic paper by Prof. Schlag both at the ATO conference (conference of tumour centres and oncology working groups in Baden-Württemberg) and in the journal ‘Deutsche Krankenpflegezeitschrift’ 1986, issue 2, pages 120-123 ‘Advanced training for nursing staff in oncology. Concept and experience at the Heidelberg/Mannheim Tumour Centre’.

Contact and exchange with the German Cancer Society e.V., German Cancer Aid e.V., Federal Ministry of Health, Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Social Affairs, Baden-Württemberg Cancer Association e.V. and the pharmaceutical industry to realise in-service training.

Initial implementation of the concept by realising further training for nurses in oncology through problem-based working methods and topic-related further training seminars.

Extension of the topic to the entire field of oncology and coordination of the concept at the Heidelberg/Mannheim Tumour Centre.

Employees travel abroad for work shadowing and conferences. Ms Kusicka and Ms Sensmeyer to St. Gallen/Switzerland and Ms Brudermüller to the 2nd European Cancer Conference (ECCO 2) in Amsterdam.

The first initiative to promote further training for nurses in oncology at the Surgical University Hospital in Heidelberg is launched under the leadership of Mr Vogel (Nursing Department), Dr Schwarz (Psychosocial Aftercare) and Prof Dr Schlag (Surgical Oncology).

Opening of ward 8A by Prof Bokelmann. This marked the opening of a surgical oncology ward at Heidelberg University Hospital, which places new demands on nursing staff:

  • extensive surgical procedures
  • multimorbidity
  • Early transfer back from the intensive care unit
  • Patients receive pre- and post-operative chemotherapy/radiation and expect information and appropriate care in this regard
  • New therapeutic procedures (PORT, limb perfusion)
  • There was hardly any nursing literature, hardly any further training events for nursing staff.