In Vietnam, many of the nurses treating oncology patients have not gone through specialized oncology training – even in hospitals that only care for cancer patients. To address this need, in 2023, Ms. Jodi Hyman was part of a team of HVO volunteer oncology nurses who organized and executed a two-week course called Advancing the Role Oncology Nurse at Vietnam’s National Cancer Center. After her return, she spoke positively of the experience to her friend, oncology nurse Dr. Margaret Fitch. Dr. Fitch was impressed by the work and interested in becoming a volunteer herself. In March 2026, the two headed to Vietnam to conduct weeklong courses on oncology nursing at Da Nang Oncology Hospital and Hue Central Hospital. Three days of each course were spent with staff nurses on introduction to cancer care, symptom management, and patient education. Two days were spent with head nurses and others in teaching positions training them on how to assess learning needs and how to plan educational programs. In Da Nang, Dr. Fitch and Ms. Hyman trained twenty-five head nurses and educators. In Hue, a hybrid program allowed for a wider audience, reaching nearly 300 participants. Activities consisted of lectures, small group activities, and role-play and covered topics including patient care, therapeutic conversation, how to manage stress, and psychosocial care.
Both Dr. Fitch and Ms. Hyman believe that addressing a patient’s emotional state is an essential but often overlooked part of care. “Many patients are diagnosed in the late stages of cancer,” said Ms. Hyman, “so it’s imperative to be able to recognize the need for some comfort and conversation. The nurses asked multiple times for training in this area.” The volunteers also showed nurses how to improve practices around spill kits, recommended labeling hazardous drugs, and discussed ways to improve safety for both the nurses and the patients.
Even though they are no longer physically in Vietnam, Dr. Fitch and Ms. Hyman maintain a relationship with their colleagues. “We communicate frequently,” said Ms. Hyman. “I help coordinate a monthly journal case study club for Da Nang, and we also host monthly video conferences for both Hue and Da Nang.” The monthly conferences draw many participants, including eight HVO volunteers. Dr. Fitch has been sending resources such as assessment tools, questionnaires, and scales to assess patient symptoms. While these are commonly used in North America, standardized assessment tools are not always accessible in resource-scare regions.
Both volunteers believe that though change is slow, progress is in motion. “You won’t see dramatic changes quickly,” said Ms. Hyman, “but I could see the medical directors saw the value in improving nurses’ knowledge. We discussed additional workshops on quality improvement and research integration, and they want us to come back and lead those workshops.” Dr. Fitch added, “The expectation now is that the hospital will implement a standard orientation program for nurses in oncology care. That will take time, consistent effort, and leadership.”
Even so, they have already seen a few changes in action. Dr. Fitch noted seeing a difference in how the nurses practice wound care. She also helped nurses understand that fatigue is a common problem for patients and that there are interventions they can offer. Ms. Hyman mentioned that nurses are now able to recognize a febrile neutropenic episode, something that can occur when a patient’s immune system is weakened from treatments and they need immediate antibiotics. Another change is in how leadership approaches continuing education for staff – moving forward, they will consider how staff at different points in their careers may need different levels of education and support. Already the hospital in Da Nang has organized a chemotherapy administration course for all nurses in the chemotherapy department. The course will last one and a half months and is the very first chemotherapy course developed and organized internally. “It is very meaningful to us,” said Dung Luu, an oncology nurse in the program. “Thank you so much for all the valuable information and knowledge you shared with us.”
Dr. Fitch and Ms. Hyman expect each hospital to organize more trainings for their oncology nurses, using what they learned from the volunteers’ workshop on assessments and program planning. Ultimately, the workshop they provided combined with future trainings will lead to thousands more patients receiving improved oncology nursing care. “Through the lectures and professional insights shared by both experts, our nursing staff had the opportunity to access many new and practical areas of knowledge, particularly in evidence-based nursing practice, the care of patients with chemotherapy-induced myelosuppresion, and the management of adverse effects during treatment,” said Dr. Thanh Hung Nguyen, Director of Da Nang Oncology Hospital. “This knowledge has significantly contributed to enhancing our nurses’ clinical competencies, as well as to strengthening their confidence in improving care, monitoring, and counseling for patients. Furthermore, following the Train-the-Trainer course, the participating head nurses have developed training plans and begun dissemination the professional content to nursing staff within their respective units, thereby broadening the program’s impact throughout the hospital.”
Dr. Fitch and Ms. Hyman believe in HVO’s focus on education. “I can go and give chemotherapy for two weeks, but that doesn’t pass on any knowledge or provide sustainability,” said Ms. Hyman. “We are not a Band-Aid. We are empowering people to provide the best care for patients. I have recommended HVO to numerous people, and I just presented at my institution to over 120 people who listened to me share my experiences in Vietnam.” Dr. Fitch added, “As volunteers, we share knowledge but also have the opportunity to learn from colleagues. You are not there to tell them what to do, but rather to share information and work together to see how it might be applied.”
Dr. Fitch has been invited to an annual conference in Hue in August 2026 where she will lead a workshop on palliative care and present a session on psychosocial care.
For information on opportunities with our oncology program, visit our oncology specialty page or email Program Manager Lauren Franklin.