This course is an update of the disease sites information in the Foundations of Oncology Nursing Practice (FONP) course, which covered breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer. If you have completed Foundations in Oncology Nursing Practice recently, do not take this course unless you wish to review an updated version of the previous disease site content.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in Canada. Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable cancers. With screening programs across Canada, colon cancer and rectal cancer are being diagnosed at earlier stages and outcomes are significantly better than just a few decades earlier. This course will introduce you to colorectal cancer epidemiology, pathology, screening, diagnosis, and treatment, covering the foundational knowledge you need to provide nursing care to patients with colorectal cancer and their families. This online course will build on what you learned in Foundations of Oncology Nursing Practice or Cancer Care Basics. 

Course Objectives 

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

• Locate the gross anatomical features of the colon and identify the tissue layers of the colon wall.
• Describe the trends in colorectal cancer incidence over the last decades.
• List factors that put a person at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.
• List the prognostic factors that put a person at higher risk of dying from colorectal cancer.
• Compare and contrast the CRC screening schedule and procedures for low vs. high-risk individuals, and identify screening programs in your province or territory.
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer by tumour location.
• Describe the general diagnostic pathway for colorectal cancer.
• Describe the TNM staging system for colorectal cancer.
• Explain the treatment of CRC by cancer stage and tumour location, including the use of surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation

Course Syllabus

This course consists of two self-directed eLearning modules and a final quiz.

The final quiz consists of a case study where you will apply your knowledge to the care of a particular patient living with colorectal cancer. The quiz is open-book and a passing grade is 70%.

Although you can complete the various components of the course at your own pace, the course must be completed within 6 weeks from the time you register for the course.

Download the full Course Syllabus

Eligibility

Available to all regulated health care professionals working along the cancer care continuum.

Payment must be received before you have access to the course. For more information, please visit our Cancellation & No Show Policy.

Participants can pay for this course online with a credit card, or send a cheque to: