Analysis of nurses’ role in transition care for patients with oncology diseases at Georgi Stranski University Hospital, Pleven, Bulgaria

Despite the advances in diagnostic technologies, oncology diseases in Bulgaria are detected at advanced stages. Nurses play a key role in planning, coordinating and delivering complex care. This review aimed to evaluate the role of nurses in the transition care for oncology patients and give recommendations for its updates according to the existing transition care models. In five oncology departments, we studied 67 patients and 49 nurses using a direct individual self-administered questionnaire. Data was processed with Microsoft Office Excel 2019 и SPSS v.26. A significant number of nurses affirmed providing information to the patients within their competence (77.6%), but only orally in two-thirds of cases (65.3%). Moreover, in most cases, it happens on discharge when the patient is agitated and cannot remember all the recommendations. After discharge, the patients would seek advice from an oncologist (76.1%), with only one would ask a nurse. Patients rely on the help of their families (64.2%) to cope with the disease. Nurses should play a crucial role in improving the quality and safety of care. Intervention programs for the prevention of oncology diseases should be prepared.