de Souza Institute
Categories: Nursing, Interprofessional, Oncology

Foundations of Cancer Disease Sites Series - Pancreatic Cancer (CDSM00PANCREATICODM25)

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Facilitator(s):

Donalda MacDonald and Margaret Forbes. Course Author – Donalda MacDonald and Komal Patel Saini

This course is an update of the disease sites information in the Foundations of Oncology Nursing Practice (FOND) course, which covered breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer. If you have completed Foundations in Oncology Nursing Practice prior to 2025, do not take this course unless you wish to review an updated version of the previous disease site content.

Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most difficult tumours to detect and diagnose due to its anatomical position deep in the body. Unlike other cancers, there has been limited progress increasing survival for patients with pancreatic cancer. In Canada, the five-year net survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer is the lowest of all cancers. This course will introduce you to pancreatic cancer epidemiology, pathology, screening, diagnosis, and treatment, covering the foundational knowledge you need to provide nursing care to patients with pancreatic cancer and their families. This online course will build on what you learned in Foundations of Oncology Nursing Practice, Cancer Care Basics or the Provincial Standardized Chemotherapy and Biotherapy course.

Course Objectives 

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

  • Describe the normal anatomy and physiology of the pancreas
  • Identify risk factors for pancreatic cancer development
  • Understand the pathophysiology of pancreatic cancer
  • Describe the diagnosis pathway and staging for pancreatic cancer
  • Describe the role of the modalities used in the management of pancreatic cancer
  • Describe the role of the nurse for each of the treatment modalities.

Course Syllabus

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

The quiz consists of a case study where you will apply your knowledge to the care of a patient living with pancreatic cancer. The quiz is open-book consisting of 10 questions. You must answer 7/10 questions correctly to achieve a passing grade is 70%. Two attempts are provided.

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:

de Souza Institute
c/o Toronto General Hospital
200 Elizabeth Street,
RFE 3-440
Toronto, ON   M5G 2C4

You will immediately gain access to the course materials and have 6 weeks* after enrollment to complete all required activities.

*Course Duration
6 weeks
Fee (CAD)
$160.00
International Fee (CAD)
$224.00

To enroll in this course:

ENROLL

To purchase multiple courses or a single course for someone else:

Purchase Access Code(s)
Learning Hours
3
de Souza Designation Credits
Up to 0.5 credits under Treatment and Delivery of Evidence Based Care:
3 disease sites = Total 0.125 credits
6 disease sites = Total 0.25 credits
9 disease sites = Total 0.325 credits
12 and more disease sites = Total 0.5 credits
Format
eLearning
Prerequisites

Successful completion of either Cancer Care Basics, Foundations in Oncology Nursing Practice or Standardized Chemotherapy and Biotherapy is required to register in this course.