Nursing Fellowship Programme (NFP) - a first-of-its-kind in Assam is building a cadre of professionals trained to specialise in oncology nursing to deliver high-quality cancer care.

The nurses at cancer facilities have a challenging and delicate responsibility and it requires a novel and empathetic approach towards patients. There is also a specific psychosocial need of patients as well as their immediate caregivers. To equip nurses with specialised knowledge and skills in cancer care and treatment, it was essential to train nursing talent so that they can become champions in the cancer care delivery system.

NFP programme was launched in July 2020, by the Tata Trusts and Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF). The eleven-month long programme offers cancer nursing, treatment modalities, palliative care nursing, communication and counselling, and leadership lessons.

The nurses undergo intensive training by in-house master trainers and facilitators; the Foundation's Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Surgical Oncologists and Palliative Care doctors; other Cancer Care professionals from BBCI Guwahati, TMH Mumbai and TMC Kolkata. Senior nursing professionals from India and abroad are also involved in programme design and implementation.

The specialised oncology nursing team will help ACCF bridge a key human resource gap in the ten cancer hospitals it is establishing in Assam. The programme is not in the scheduled list of Indian Nursing Council and is basically an upskilling initiative.

For information on the programme contact
info@accf.in