Care and Coping During COVID-19: Practice Changes and Innovations in the Oncology Setting

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has required healthcare systems to transform the delivery of care. Although the core principles of care for patients with cancer have not changed, this pandemic has led to heightened awareness concerning the fragility of patients with cancer and how healthcare systems can protect them.

Objectives: The aims were to identify and implement inpatient and ambulatory care clinical practice changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, based on defining moments and coping strategies from clinical oncology nurses, advanced practice RNs, nurse leaders, and researchers.

Methods: This article presents a Lean Six Sigma framework, accompanied by numerous rapid cycle tests of change.

Findings: The COVID-19 pandemic required clinical healthcare providers at the authors’ institution to focus on seven priority areas. Nurses tested and implemented practice changes.