Any cancer- or treatment-related condition requiring rapid attention might be widely referred to as an oncologic emergency (OE). Some oncologic emergencies can be difficult to recognize and take months to manifest, while others show up suddenly and result in a life-threatening situation or the patient's death. Early detection of these emergencies and prompt action can increase the patient's chance of survival and enhance their quality of life.

This 6-week, self-study online course will introduce nurses to five OEs that may present before, during, or after a cancer diagnosis:

• Hypercalcemia of Malignancy (HCM)
• Febrile Neutropenia and Sepsis
• Tumour Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
• Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)
• Malignant Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC)

Nurses play a key role in the prevention and management of OEs. The Oncological Emergencies – Core Conditions course will equip nurses with the knowledge they need to:

• Identify patients at greatest risk of OEs
• Institute possible preventative measures
• Recognize the early signs and symptoms of the OE
• Initiate prompt intervention

Course Objectives

By the end of this course you will be able to:

• Define each oncological emergency (OE)
• Discuss normal anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology related to the OE
• Discuss risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for each OE including any standardized tools available
• Explain the principles of treatment for each OE
• Discuss the role of the nurse in assessment and management of each OE

If you have already enrolled in the latest Foundations in Oncology Nursing Practice (FOND00ODM25) course in 2025, you do not need to take the "Oncological Emergencies – Core Conditions" course, because of content overlap. Please note that if you choose to take both "Oncological Emergencies – Core Conditions" and "Foundations in Oncology Nursing Practice", only one of them will receive de Souza credits towards a de Souza Designation.