Email this article 
Development of standards of care for Canadian cellular therapy nurses
Abstract
Cellular therapy nursing is a rapidly expanding specialty, driven by multiple recent advancements in cellular and immunotherapy technologies. While the Foundation for Accreditation for Cellular Therapy (FACT) has established standards outlining education expectations for nurses working in this complex field, a review of the current literature identified a notable absence in the development and implementation of comprehensive, evidence-based Canadian nursing standards specific to cellular therapy. This gap highlights the need for further development of standardized competencies that support nurses in delivering safe, effective, and patient-centred care within this complex therapeutic landscape.
To address this identified gap, the Cell Therapy Transplant Canada (CTTC) Nursing Committee partnered with the Canadian Association for Nurses in Oncology/ Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO) to develop national standards for cellular therapy nursing, adapted from the CANO/ACIO Practice Standards and Competencies for the Specialized Oncology Nurse. This approach ensures consistency with existing oncology nursing principles while addressing the distinct complexities of cellular therapy practice.
The Cellular Therapy Nurse Standards (CTTC, 2025) provide an educational and clinical framework to support nurses working in this specialized field. These standards promote national consistency in cellular therapy nursing, through the standardization of competencies, and foster a community of excellence in the field of cellular therapy nursing. To support the implementation of these standards, two companion resources were created: a cellular therapy learning needs assessment tool and a structured learning pathway. These resources inform the development of personal learning plans, institutional programs, and educational curriculum specific to cellular therapy nursing.
Keywords: cellular therapy nurse standards, oncology nursing standards, cellular therapy nursing
https://doi.org/10.5737/23688076363252
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Aerts, E., Fliedner, M., Redmond, K., & Walton, A. (2010). Defining the scope of haematology nursing practice in Europe. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14(1):55-60. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2009.06.008.
Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB). (2025, April 13). Facts About Cellular Therapies. https://www.aabb.org/news-resources/resources/cellular-therapies/facts-about-cellular-therapies
Benner, P. (1982). From novice to expert. American Journal of Nursing, 82(3), 402-407.
Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/ /Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO). (2025, April 13). About CANO/ACIO. https://www.cano-acio.ca/page/about-us
Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/ /Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO). (2022) Standards and Competencies for Oncology Nursing Practice in Systemic Therapy. Vancouver, BC: Author. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.cano-acio.ca/resource/resmgr/practice/cano-systemictherstandards-e.pdf
Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/ /Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO). (2019). The Nursing Knowledge and Practice Framework in Cancer Care. Vancouver, BC: Author. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.cano-acio.ca/resource/resmgr/files/CANO-FrameworkEng_Web.pdf
Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/ /Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO). (2006) Practice Standards and Competencies for the Specialized Oncology Nurse. Vancouver, BC: Author. https://www.cano-acio.ca/resource/resmgr/standards/CONEP_Standards2006September.pdf
Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/ /Association canadienne des infirmières en oncologie (CANO/ACIO). (2001) Standards of Care for Oncology Nurses. Vancouver, BC: Author. https://www.cano-acio.ca/resource/resmgr/standards/Standards_of_Care_ENG.pdf
Cell Therapy Transplant Canada (CTTC). (2025, April 13). About CTTC. https://www.cttcanada.org/page/AboutCTTC
Cell Therapy Transplant Canada. (2023), 2023 CTTC National Registry Report. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.cttcanada.org/resource/resmgr/website_docs/2023_Registry_Data_Report_Au.pdf
Coombs, L.A., Noonan, K., Diane-Barber, F., Mackey, H., Peterson, M.E., Turner, T., & LeFebvre, K.B. (2020). Oncology Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Defining Best Practices in the Oncology Setting. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 24(3):296-304. doi: 10.1188/20.CJON.296-304.
Diaz, B., Corbett, A., & Camiling-Burke, A. (2018). Blood and Marrow Transplantation RN Fellowship: Design, Outcomes, and Facilitating Transition to Practice. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 22(6):673-675. doi: 10.1188/18.CJON.673-675.
EBMT Handbook: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies [Internet]. 7th edition. Cham (CH): Springer; 2019. Chapter 32. Accessed: Role of Nursing in HSCT - The EBMT Handbook - NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
Foundation for Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). (2025, April 13). Establishing Global Standards in Cellular Therapies. https://www.factglobal.org/standards/
He, J., Li, J., Feng, L.N., Feng, L.X., Qiang, W., Wang, W., & Dong, L. (2023). Oncology nurse competency in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: A qualitative study. Nurse Education Today, 132:106040. doi: 10.1016/j.nedt.2023.106040.
Knopf, K.E. (2011). Core competencies for bone marrow transplantation nurse practitioners, Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 15(1):102-5. doi: 10.1188/11.CJON.102-105.
Lachance, S., Gomes, M.M., Bambace, N.M., Bittencourt, H., Lepic, K., Shafey, M., Karpinski, J., & Guilcher, G.M.T. (2021). Recognition of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Expertise to Promote Care Accessibility: A Formally Credentialed Area of Focused Competence in Canada, Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, 27(9), 702-706. ISSN 2666-6367, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtct.2021.06.013. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666636721009970)
Liptrott, S., NíChonghaile, M., O'Connell, L., & Aerts, E. (2023). The Evolving Role of Haematology Nursing Practice: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Mediterranean Journal of Hematological Infectious Disease, 15(1):e2023033. doi: 10.4084/MJHID.2023.033.
Liptrott, S., NíChonghaile, M., & Aerts, E.; Haematology Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Group (HNHCP) (2019). Investigating the self-perceived educational priorities of haematology nurses. European Journal of Oncoogy Nursing. 41:72-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2019.05.010.
Reekie, M., de Bosch Kemper, N., Epp, S., Denison, J., Willson, M., & Moralejo, L. (2023). Learning pathways: Levelling, scaffolding & mapping curriculum. Journal of Professional Nursing, 46, 163–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.03.006
Repaczki-Jones, R., Hrnicek, A.K., Heissenbuttel, A., Devine, S., Fernandez, H., & Anasetti, C., (2019). Defining competency to empower blood and marrow transplant and cellular immunotherapy quality management professionals in healthcare. Biology of Blood Marrow Transplant, 25(1):179-182. doi: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2018.08.017.
Spellman, S.R., Xu, S., Oloyede, T., Ahn, K.W., Akhtar, O., Bolon, Y.T., Broglie, L., Bloomquist, J., Bupp, C., Chen, M., Devine, S.M., El-Jurdi, N., Hamadani, M., Hengen, M., Huppler, A.H., Jaglowski, S., Kuxhausen, M., Lee, S.J., Moskop, A., Page, K.M., Pasquini, M.C., Perez, W., Phelan, R., Rizzo, D., Saber, W., Stefanski, H.E., Steinert, P., Tuschl, E., Visotcky, A., Vogel, R., Auletta, J.J., Shaw, B.E., & Allbee-Johnson, M. (2025). Current Activity Trends and Outcomes in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy – A report from the CIBMTR, Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, (8):505-532. ISSN 2666-6367, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtct.2025.05.014.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
