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In response to the rapidly changing face of chemotherapy treatment and care in Canada, the Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO) has stepped up to the plate to ensure oncology nurses and organizations have access to the tools and knowledge products essential to provide safe, patient-focused and evidence-based care. The new Standards and Competencies for Cancer Chemotherapy Nursing Practice (Standards and Competencies), released in September 2011, outline evidence-based standards of practice for the safe and effective nursing care of patients receiving chemotherapy treatment that are applicable across urban, rural and remote care settings. By referencing these new Standards and Competencies regulating health bodies and healthcare organisations have access to professional standards that reflect the most current evidence and that were vetted through an intense peer review process. Patients at facilities adopting such high standards can expect to receive chemotherapy care that addresses their educational, physical and psychosocial needs. The CANO/ACIO standards provide oncology nurses with educational and organizational resources to ensure they achieve national standards and competencies and organizations will be able to identify and implement essential structures and resources to ensure optimal safety and health outcomes. According to Tracy Truant, RN, MSN, past CANO/ACIO Director-at-Large for Professional Practice 2007-2010, the new Standards and Competencies demonstrate CANO/ACIO’s leadership role on a national and international level.

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