Assessment of the knowledge level of nurses working in emergency medical services regarding the management of oncological emergencies

Oncological emergencies are clinical situations that require timely diagnosis and intervention, and if left untreated, pose a threat to the patient's life. Nurses, as one of the first healthcare professionals to encounter these emergencies, play a critical role in the rapid assessment of the patient, accurate interpretation of symptoms, organization of the treatment process, and ensuring patient safety. It is essential for nurses to possess adequate knowledge and awareness in this regard, as it significantly contributes to preventing complications and maintaining the patient's quality of life. In this context, assessing nurses' knowledge levels regarding oncological emergencies is crucial to enhance the quality of clinical care and identify educational needs. This study was conducted descriptively to evaluate the knowledge levels of nurses working in the emergency departments of two training and research hospitals in Istanbul regarding oncological emergencies. In the study, the "Oncological Emergencies Knowledge Level Questionnaire," developed based on the literature and expert opinions, was used as the data collection tool. The form consists of three sections: demographic information, multiple-choice knowledge questions related to oncological emergencies (Pericardial Effusion, Hypercalcemia, Neutropenic Fever, Inappropriate ADH Secretion, Pulmonary Embolism, Diarrhea, Nausea-Vomiting), and an evaluation for calculating the general knowledge score. Data were collected in 2025 through face-to-face surveys and analyzed using SPSS 25.0 software. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Kruskal-Wallis test were applied in the data analysis. A total of 120 nurses participated in the study. The nurses' knowledge levels regarding oncological emergencies were evaluated on a scale of 100 points, and the overall average score was found to be 72.80. This result indicates that the nurses generally possess a good level of knowledge. However, when examining the subcategories, significant differences in knowledge levels were observed. The highest average scores were obtained in the categories of Nausea and Vomiting (88.96) and Neutropenic Fever (78.79). In contrast, the lowest average scores were observed in the topics of Inappropriate ADH Secretion (61.06) and Hypercalcemia (63.33). These findings indicate that nurses have a high level of knowledge regarding more commonly encountered oncological emergencies, but knowledge gaps exist in rare or more complex emergency situations. As a result, it is recommended to plan targeted and up-to-date in-service training programs for these areas.