Objectives: To review models of care for older adults with cancer, with a focus on the role of the oncology nurse in geriatric oncology care. International exemplars of geriatric oncology nursing care are discussed.
Data source: Published peer reviewed literature, Web-based resources, professional society materials, and the authors' experience.
Conclusion: Nursing care for older patients with cancer is complex and requires integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines that blend the sciences of geriatrics, oncology, and nursing, and which recognizes the dimensions of quality of life.
Implications for nursing practice: Oncology nurses can benefit from learning key skills of comprehensive geriatric screening and assessment to improve the care they provide for older adults with cancer.
Keywords: Geriatric oncology; models of care; nursing.
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