As an extension of ESO’s Clinical Training Centres Fellowship Programme for oncology physicians, a dedicated Fellowship for Cancer Nurses is now available across selected centres in Europe. This programme is offered in collaboration with European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS).
The Fellowship aims to support the standardisation of cancer care outcomes across countries and regions by promoting multidisciplinary teamwork in accredited European Oncology Centres, encouraging mobility within EU and different countries.
Nurses will take part in a structured training period within a clinical setting designed to enhance their expertise in oncology nursing. By the end of the Fellowship, participants are expected to have strengthened their practical and clinical skills, while also gaining a comprehensive understanding of how a modern Cancer Unit is organised and managed.
The following accredited centres will host CTC Fellowships for oncology nurses.
Click on each one to explore the available participating ones.
Applicants will be asked to indicate their preferred host centres in order of priority.
Training format
Participating centres will offer one of the following formats:
- Observership
No direct patient contact. Designed for observational learning.
- Residency
Includes direct patient contact. Focused on hands-on clinical experience.
Eligible nurses may apply for a 1-month training period, depending on the centre and the programme offered.
Eligibility for each format depends on the regulations of the host country.
Fellowship fundings and logistic
ESO will provide:
- Travel reimbursement:
Economy-class round-trip fare from location of residence to the host training centre.
- Monthly grant:
EUR 2,000 gross per month.
Please note: accommodation is not provided and must be arranged independently by the trainee.
Training structure
Successful candidates can take part in a range of direct-contact educational experiences.
Activities are divided into:
- Clinical teaching activities, common to all cancer types.
- Specialty-specific experiences, tailored to different disciplines and tumour types.
During the Fellowship, candidates will have the opportunity to observe all types of cancer services and will follow the daily clinical practice of oncology nurses in a variety of settings.
General experience
Candidates will become integrated members of the cancer team to which they are assigned and will have the opportunity to observe a wide range of cancer care services offered at the host centre. These may include:
- Cancer wards
- Follow-up and nurse-led services
- Clinical trial units
- Oncology emergency services
- Palliative and supportive care
- Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy treatment units
This experience is designed to provide a comprehensive view of oncology nursing across the full continuum of care.
Specialty and/or disease-specific experience
Some host centres may offer disease-specific training programmes for specialised oncology nurses. Please refer to the individual centre descriptions for details.
Each successful candidate will have the opportunity to define a tailored learning path, based on their clinical interests and professional goals. This will be discussed and agreed upon with the host centre prior to the start of the placement.
During the visit, each nurse will be assigned a designated supervisor or mentor. Regular weekly meetings between the nurse and supervisor will be held to monitor progress, provide feedback, and align expectations.
Candidate profile
To be eligible for the ESO–EONS Cancer Nursing Fellowship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum of two years’ experience in clinical cancer nursing.
- Be a member of an EONS member society or an individual member of EONS.
- Have formal approval from their current employer to take part in the programme.
Priority will be given to:
- European cancer nurses from countries where no specialist cancer nursing training is currently available.
- Nurses who have participated in an ESO–EONS Masterclass.
For further information, please contact Elena Fiore at efiore@eso.net.
