Loddon Mallee BCNs

• Which nurses are involved in the care of a woman with breast cancer?
• What is the Breast Care Nurse’s (BCN) role?
• What is the Loddon Mallee BCN Network?
• What is the role of the Loddon Mallee Regional BCN Coordinator?
• What are the BCN positions in the Loddon Mallee Region?
• What is the Loddon Mallee Breast Care Nurse Forum?

In the Loddon Mallee region we recognize the work of a number of different nursing roles as being very important in the care of a woman with breast cancer. These include the Breast Care Nurse, Breast Cancer Support Services Nurse, Community Health Nurse, Acute Ward Nurse and Chemotherapy Nurse.

A Breast Care Nurse (BCN) is a Division 1 Registered Nurse (RN) who has a special interest in the care of women with breast cancer and who has completed specialist breast care training at a University. For more information refer to The Cancer Council's "Breast Care Nurses".

A Breast Cancer Support Service Nurse (BCSSN) is an RN who has a special interest in breast cancer and has attended a one day introductory session through the Cancer Council of Victoria.

Both BCNs and BCSSNs are required to attend at least 12 hours of breast cancer updates annually. For the purpose of simplicity, throughout this website whenever we refer to Breast Care Nurses we are referring to both BCNs and BCSSNs.

The Acute Ward Nurse provides the physical care during your post-operative stay in hospital. The Chemotherapy Nurse provides advice and support and is responsible for the delivery of your chemotherapy, under the direction of the Medical Oncologist. The Community Health Nurse provides support and information outside the hospital environment .

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What is the Breast Care Nurse's (BCN) role?
Throughout your treatment care pathway you need to make many decisions. These need to be what is best for you; they must take into account your needs and family circumstances. Your BCN will offer you and your family members the support you need in making these informed decisions.

The BCN will:

• reinforce and discuss information provided by your surgeon or other breast cancer specialist
• provide you with access to further information as required
• offer both practical and emotional support
• provide referrals to other support services where indicated
• provide advice regarding the purchase of a breast prosthesis and wig, including access to financial assistance

The BCN liaises with both the Acute Ward Nurse and the Chemotherapy Nurse throughout treatment to ensure continuity of care and support. The BCN also acts as an advocate, linking your medical treatment team with other emotional and practical support services whilst maintaining confidentiality and best practice standards.

In the Loddon Mallee we have some full time BCN roles, but in most cases it is a part time position. Most of the BCNs undertake the role whilst wearing a number of other "hats".

If you need to travel for treatment it is possible that you will meet more than one BCN - your local BCN and also the BCN in the treatment town.

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What is the Loddon Mallee BCN Network?
In the Loddon Mallee region there is a network of breast cancer nurses. This network meets every three months for education, professional development and support.

They also meet in their "virtual community", the Breast Care Nurse Forum available on this website. BCNs, particularly in rural areas, often practice in isolation from their colleagues. Our "virtual community" aims to break down this isolation by providing access to regular communication amongst network members.

BCN Network meetings are facilitated by the Loddon Mallee Regional Breast Care Nurse Coordinator.

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What is the role of the Loddon Mallee Regional BCN Coordinator?
The primary role of the Loddon Mallee Regional BCN Coordinator is to:

• promote the role of the BCN across the Loddon Mallee region
• promote further education and training opportunities for BCNs, and
• address supervision and debriefing issues for BCNs

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The Loddon Mallee Breast Care Nurse Forum is a private, secure area on this website where Breast Care Nurses "meet". Within the forum there is:

• an event directory (listing events such as local and national breast cancer conferences)
• a notice board (for posting notices about such things as a recent research paper)
• a forum for discussion (asking & answering questions; participation in open discussion)

Within the forum the BCN will:

• participate in professional education
• receive and offer support to others within the network
• receive supervision in their role
• debrief through interaction with colleagues, off-loading some of the daily stresses

Membership of this forum is open to nurses who provide care to women with breast cancer.

• Register Now
• Enter the Breast Care Nurse Forum
  

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