Oncology nursing in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: listening to the workforce.

Background: Over half the countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) are experiencing conflict or are socially fragile, compromising cancer care. Nonetheless, throughout the EMR, competent nurses are major players in the cancer care team. The aim of this paper is to portray the challenges and opportunities for oncology nursing in the EMR.

Methods: This paper draws upon the relevant literature on oncology nursing across EMR with a focus on Afghanistan, Lebanon, Somaliland, and Iran. To enhance the scant nursing literature and obtain real-life experiences, short interviews were undertaken with nine nurses and two doctors, personal contacts of the authors, working in cancer care in those countries.

Results: Against the general background of vast economic constraints in health services, the lack of recognition of oncology nursing as a speciality and high rates of nurse migration, many oncology nurses in EMR are fighting for professional recognition and some are working under unsafe conditions. Undeterred by these circumstances, nurses are making every effort to care compassionately for people with cancer.

Conclusions: The perspectives of the cancer workforce in EMR both foster an appreciation of cultural diversity and provide the evidence and motivation for oncology nurses worldwide to further collaborate via global nursing organisations to strive for country-specific recognition and change in nursing practice.