PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To identify the knowledge and skill needs of oncology nurse practitioners (ONPs) as they enter cancer care practice, and to identify necessary educational resources. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive. SETTING: A national e-mail survey. SAMPLE: 610 self-described ONPs from the Oncology Nursing Society's database. METHODS: The project team developed a 28-item electronic survey. The survey was randomly distributed via e-mail. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: ONPs' feelings of preparedness in the first year of ONP practice. FINDINGS: In the first year of practice, 90% of ONPs rated themselves as prepared or very prepared in obtaining patient history, performing physical examination, and documenting findings. ONPs rated themselves as not at all or somewhat prepared in clinical issues of chemotherapy/biotherapy competency (n = 81, 78%), recognizing and managing oncologic emergencies, (n = 77, 70%), and recognizing and managing drug toxicities (n = 63, 61%). The primary source of oncology education for ONPs new to practice was almost exclusively the collaborating or supervising physician (n = 84, 81%). CONCLUSIONS: Specific knowledge and skills, such as information about chemotherapy, oncologic emergencies, and side effects of therapy, are needed before an ONP enters a cancer care practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Cancer-specific education should be made available to new ONPs as they begin independent practice.
PURPOSE/ OBJECTIVES: To identify the knowledge and skill needs of oncology nurse practitioners (ONPs) as they enter cancer care practice, and to identify necessary educational resources. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive. SETTING: A national e-mail survey. SAMPLE: 610 self-described ONPs from the Oncology Nursing Society's database. METHODS: The project team developed a 28-item electronic survey. The survey was randomly distributed via e-mail. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: ONPs' feelings of preparedness in the first year of ONP practice. FINDINGS: In the first year of practice, 90% of ONPs rated themselves as prepared or very prepared in obtaining patient history, performing physical examination, and documenting findings. ONPs rated themselves as not at all or somewhat prepared in clinical issues of chemotherapy/biotherapy competency (n = 81, 78%), recognizing and managing oncologic emergencies, (n = 77, 70%), and recognizing and managing drug toxicities (n = 63, 61%). The primary source of oncology education for ONPs new to practice was almost exclusively the collaborating or supervising physician (n = 84, 81%). CONCLUSIONS: Specific knowledge and skills, such as information about chemotherapy, oncologic emergencies, and side effects of therapy, are needed before an ONP enters a cancer care practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Cancer-specific education should be made available to new ONPs as they begin independent practice.
Authors: Brenda Nevidjon; Paula Rieger; Cynthia Miller Murphy; Margaret Quinn Rosenzweig; Michele R McCorkle; Kristen Baileys Journal: J Oncol Pract Date: 2010-01 Impact factor: 3.840
Authors: Leslie A Hoffman; Frederick J Tasota; Thomas G Zullo; Carmella Scharfenberg; Michael P Donahoe Journal: Am J Crit Care Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 2.228
Authors: Yi L Hwa; Jessica L Shelly; Darci L Zblewski; Megan T Spychalla; Dawn M Udenberg; Kathryn R Cieslak; Grzegorz S Nowakowski; Martha Q Lacy; Ariela L Marshall Journal: J Adv Pract Oncol Date: 2020-05-01