Advanced Practice Registered Nurse - Medicine, Medical Oncology

CORE JOB SUMMARY  

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) delivers medical care to a wide variety of patients. The APP also examines and treats patients independently and collaborates with other health care professionals. Ensures proper illness and injury management, also disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. May prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests. Advises patients about continuing care. The APP will work within the oncology service line responsible to execute care in the acute and outpatient care settings. 

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS  

• Performs and documents complete physical examinations and comprehensive health histories.  

• Functions independently to perform age-appropriate history and physical for patients. 

• Orders and interprets diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to the patient’s age-specific needs. 

• Prescribes appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities. 

• Implements interventions to support the patient to regain or maintain physiologic stability. 

• Assists with the provision of care in accordance with facility, state, and federal regulations. 

• Monitors the effectiveness of interventions. 

• Facilitates the patient’s transition within and between health care settings, e.g. admitting, transferring, and discharging patients. 

• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members by making appropriate referrals. 

• Facilitates staff, patient and family decision making by providing educational tools. 

• Serves as a role model and mentor for staff. 

• Ensures and coordinates standardization of the advanced practice process between patient care services and collaborative teams.  

• Integrates current knowledge of professional issues, trends in healthcare, and technological advances into the scope of practice. 

• Participates or leads a hospital committee.  

• Co-leads collaborative team in developing a new service or strategic performance improvement. 

• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets. 

• Participates in survivorship and long-term care of patients following completion of treatment.  

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS  

Infusion/Comprehensive Treatment Unit (CTU)-/ Oncology Care Clinic (OCC)* 

• Provides Infusion/chemotherapy treatment unit (CTU) coverage at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) main campus and/or at satellite locations. This includes on-call, weekends, and cross coverage. 

• Provides and coordinates patient teaching and counseling Able to collaborate with physicians and other providers regarding the care of a patient receiving treatment in the CTU and in all settings, outpatient and inpatient.  

• Assures appropriate medical documentation according to Medical Staff policies/bylaws. 

• Responds to emergencies and/or rapid responses. 

• Assures the patient is transferred to the appropriate physician/specialty/hospital for continuation of care or when a higher level of care is necessary. 

• Collaborates with pharmacy, nursing staff, and other disciplines to optimize the quality of care and time of the patients treated at CTU. 

• Refers to support services when needed. 

• Precepts or mentors APP students, Fellows, nursing staff, and nursing students. 

• Assists in the management of family dynamics, coping mechanisms during acute and chronic phases of patient care. 

• Facilitates the coordination of outpatient care and services as needed. 

• Promotes evidence-based practice.  

• Obtains informed consent, as indicated. 

• Participates in Unit Councils, QI/Research projects. 

• Assists when needed, optimizing infusion center workflows by providing direct patient care that may include but is not limited to injections, assuming charge role, etc.) 

• Conducts monthly educational in-services to staff based on relevant infusion center topics as necessary.  

• Performs patient triage, develops a plan of care and determines the urgency/escalation to the patient’s attending physician/provider. 

• Provides symptom management for side effects related to their cancer or treatment. 

• Performs designated procedures after demonstrated competency and credentialing, according to written standardized procedures where applicable 

• Ensures compliance with legal, billing, regulatory, and clinical policies and procedures 

• Communicates daily with triage nurse regarding patients who need to be added to OCC clinic for symptom management, evaluation, and treatment. 

Outpatient Oncology Clinics and/or Hospital-based Centers 

• May travel to the SCCC main campus and satellites to provide care to patients who are new to the system and or require follow-up care. This includes, but is not limited to outpatients, Survivorship visits, and walk-in patients with medical issues.  

• Collaborate with physicians, staff, and leaders in the care of these outpatients. 

• Provides patient/family education regarding disease processes, treatment options, treatment outcomes, possible complications, medications, discharge planning, and lifestyle modification. 

• Assure appropriate transfer of patient/communication/documentation to the patient’s physician and team. 

• Collects data for patient and program evaluation and participates in quality assessment and improvement activities.  

• Provides coverage to areas of need within main campus and the satellites. 

• Promotes evidence-based practice.  

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary. 

CORE/DEPARTMENT QUALIFICATIONS  

Education: 

• Master’s Degree or higher 

Certification and Licensing: 

• Florida APRN license or Physician Assistant license 

• Graduate of Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree. 

• Graduate of Master in Science of Nursing or higher curriculum. 

• Board certification as APRN from a nationally accredited organization such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) 

• Board certification as a PA from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) 

• Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification preferred 

• Current Certification in BLS and ACLS 

• CITI certification within three months of employment 

• ONS Chemotherapy Immunotherapy certification upon hire or during orientation and renewed every two years 

Experience:   

• Minimum 2 years of relevant advanced practice nursing experience preferred 

• Minimum 2 years of experience in treating hematology/oncology, acute care, or intensive care unit patients preferred 

Professional Development 

• AOCNP certification within one year of employment, applicable to APRN 

• Participates in 360 ◦ peer review process 

• Submits annual protocols to the practice site 

• Maintains national certification 

• Attend one national conference 

• Attend monthly educational grand rounds or relevant educational in-house meetings 

• Able to author or contribute to an article.  

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: 

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions. 

• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail. 

• Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work under pressure while meeting deadlines. 

• Ability to work independently and/or in a collaborative environment. 

• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.