Cancer is the most common noncommunicable disease and a leading cause of death, with nearly 19.3 million new cancer cases and 10.0 million cancer deaths reported worldwide in 2020.1 Nurses comprise the largest workforce that provides services for people with cancer and their families across the entire cancer trajectory. Thus, nurses are uniquely positioned to advance cancer care and control to positively influence cancer treatment, care services, education, research, and policymaking.

The International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care recently developed a strategic plan 2022–2025 that consists of 4 strategic directions2: (1) building and strengthening the cancer nursing workforce across the world, (2) influencing global health policy, (3) advancing and applying knowledge, and (4) leveraging partnerships with members and global citizens. One of the foci of strategic direction (1) is to develop nursing leadership in cancer care. Moreover, in terms of strategic direction (2), we have formulated a position statement that is a call to action to develop and strengthen cancer nursing leadership worldwide.3 In this statement, we recommend that the following actions be taken.

All cancer nurses should be supported and encouraged to develop and use leadership skills. Cancer nurses need to be equipped how to mentor and empower other cancer nurses to develop their leadership skills and provide them with opportunities for leadership development. Leadership skills should be taught in formal professional and continuing education in cancer nursing. Examples of cancer nurses serving as leaders across a range of settings should be made available and shared to encourage and empower cancer nurses. Leadership training that links with national nursing leadership development programs should be developed for cancer nurses. Cancer nurses should be provided with opportunities for training in policy development and advocacy, thus enabling them to lead in this capacity. Cancer nurses should have a “seat at the table” at all levels within cancer care to enable their voices to be heard. International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care members should collaborate to contribute to global efforts to build cancer nursing leadership. Nursing leadership should be addressed at all national, regional, and international cancer nursing conferences to emphasize its importance and to empower and encourage new and emerging cancer nursing leaders. National, regional, and international cancer nursing and related associations should collaborate to develop cancer nursing leadership globally.

Taking the previously mentioned actions is crucial for ensuring that cancer nurses are empowered to take on key leadership roles in cancer control that will increase access to and shape the future of cancer care.

We will initiate the implementation of our strategic plan by conducting a leadership workshop at the International Conference on Cancer Nursing 2023.4 This workshop will examine the importance of nursing leadership in cancer control and the opportunities and challenges associated with its development. Participants will analyze a series of case studies related to leadership in clinical practice, management, and research. They will also have opportunities to examine learnings from these case studies and learn how to apply recommendations from our position statement for advancing nursing leadership in cancer care and control. We will also work collaboratively with the Asian Oncology Nursing Society, our regional partner, to conduct a similar workshop at the Asian Oncology Nursing Society Conference 2023.

Furthermore, because of the success of the Leadership Development Program for Oncology Nursing in Cancer Care in 2021, we will continue to work with City Cancer Challenge, our international partner, to provide a leadership program for oncology nurses in City Cancer Challenge cities this year. The aims of this program will be to improve the leadership role of nursing in cancer care and to increase the confidence of nurses in their roles within multidisciplinary cancer care teams. We believe that with collective effort and by providing cancer nurses with leadership training, they will be able to serve as effective leaders in cancer care and control and thereby improve the experiences of patients and their families.

1. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209–249. 2. International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care. Strategic plan 2022–2025. International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care Web site. https://www.isncc.org/About-Us. Accessed June 7, 2023. 3. Downing JD, Appiah AA, Ash K, et al. Position statement on cancer nursing leadership. Cancer Nurs. 2023;46(2):89–91. 4. International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care. International Conference on Cancer Nursing 2023 full program. https://www.iccn2023.com/full-program/. Accessed June 7, 2023.