Dr Faith Gibson
PhD, MSc, Cert Ed, RSCN, ENB 237, RGN, RNT
Dr Faith Gibson is the senior lecturer in Children’s Cancer Nursing Research at UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
As a nursing leader, Faith has been responsible for many significant advances in the evolving specialty of children’s cancer nursing practice, both in the UK and internationally. As a practitioner, educator and leading researcher in this field, her work has shaped many developments in paediatric oncology nursing practice.
She has pioneered many initiatives including the development of specific education provision and interdisciplinary guidelines on behalf of the CCLG, together with guidance on mouth care and nutrition. More recently, her research has helped to establish new ways of working, initiating change in a number of aspects of care, including oral assessment pain management.
She is co-chair of the joint United Kingdom Children’s Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) now CCLG (Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group) and the RCN Paediatric Oncology Nurses Forum Supportive Care Group.
Faith’s work has significantly raised the profile of paediatric oncology nursing in the UK and overseas and helped to advance and expand the nursing role in this specialisation. For example, her PhD research resulted in a definition of children’s nursing that makes explicit the similarities and differences between generalist and specialist children’s nursing. She is also responsible for the development of a framework to support role development which continues to shape practice development today. However, her primary goal has always been to ensure that holistic, evidence-based care improves the outcomes and experience for children with cancer and their families.
During her chairmanship of the RCN Paediatric Oncology Nurses Forum, Faith established interdisciplinary collaboration at national levels with patient groups, medical and scientific colleagues, leading and promoting the development of guidelines, audits, research projects, educational standards and policy documents. Her role in this field has helped to define and enhance the core knowledge base while highlighting the imperative for mutual and collaborative working with other health care professionals.
In recent years, Faith has brought her 20 years of cancer nursing knowledge and considerable experience to bear on numerous research studies and practice projects, both in general children’s nursing and other paediatric nursing specialties. Widely recognised as the first nurse to lead research in this area, she is one of the very few researchers to focus on what having cancer and cancer treatment is like for children, young people and their families.
In undertaking a number of studies to identify the aspects of cancer care that are important to children and young people in relation to their health service, Faith has become renowned for enabling young people to shape the way services are delivered. Giving patients and their families a voice and making their experiences tangible for care professionals has led to greater insight and better understanding of treatment and care needs for young people, children and their families. Currently, she is examining interventions from a child, parent and professional perspective as part of a programme to evaluate clinical guidance and patient satisfaction.
As a teacher, researcher and leader, Faith has pushed forward the frontiers of children’s cancer nursing not just in the UK, but internationally. Her work to improve education and care provision in developed and developing countries has been achieved through strengthening networks, organising educational events and conferences, and collaborating with colleagues on education and research initiatives. As chair of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Nurses Group, she has become a powerful advocate for paediatric oncology nursing, ensuring the nursing and care needs of children and young people with cancer appear on the policy and development agendas of many nations.
For her outstanding contribution to the advancement of the nursing of children and young people in the specialty of paediatric oncology and for her exceptional contribution to nursing research and leadership across international boundaries, RCN Council conferred Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing on Faith Gibson in 2007.