Advanced Practice Provider

Tennessee Oncology, one of the nation's largest, community-based cancer care specialists, is home to one of the leading clinical trial networks in the country. Established 1976 in Nashville, Tennessee Oncology's mission remains unchanged: To provide access to high-quality cancer care and the expertise of clinical research for all patients, at convenient locations within their community and close to their home. Our growing network of physicians and locations is based on this mission. Tennessee Oncology is committed to advancing both the science of detection and targeted treatments, and to making these advances available to every patient. We believe caring for cancer patients is a privilege.

Why Join Us? We are looking for talented and highly-motivated individuals who demonstrate a natural desire to support the meaningful work of community oncologists and the patients we serve.

Job Description:

APP principally provides care at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Blood Cancer inpatient unit as well as supports patients with hematologic malignancies in the outpatient setting. APP provides quality care to patients with hematologic and oncologic diagnosis who are receiving treatment for their malignancy, experiencing complications, or require supportive care. The APP uses evidence-based literature and works toward evidence-based practice to effect a positive change in the health and healthcare delivered to the patient with a past, current, or potential diagnosis of cancer.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

I) Clinical

• Assesses the physical and psychosocial status of patients.

• Obtains and documents comprehensive health history.

• Performs and documents complete, system-focused, symptom-specific physical exams and recognizes abnormalities/deviations from normal.

• Assesses for symptoms commonly seen in patients with cancer, impact of physical comorbidities on cancer symptoms and response to treatment, signs and symptoms of disease progression or recurrence, actual or potential late effects of cancer and its treatment in cancer survivors.

• In collaboration with clinical pharmacist(s), conducts a pharmacologic assessment, including prescriptions drugs, over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements, and other complementary or alternative therapies.

• Orders and interprets findings of ancillary data, including laboratory and diagnostic tests.

• Prioritizes findings identify urgent or highest priority patient problems.

• Participation in clinical research efforts including identification of eligible patients for clinical trials, prompt completion of regulatory documents (i.e., financial disclosures), and and management of study patients per the research protocol.

• Relays appropriate information regarding patient care to the collaborating physician.

• Communicates plan of care to patient, caregiver and other members of the health care team.

• Writes prescriptions for medication, blood products based of laboratory results, routine diagnostic and follow-up studies, therapeutic measures, and post-discharge care in accordance with written practice protocols.

• Provides management for symptoms of cancer and side effects related to cancer treatment.

• Refers or requests consultation from physicians and other health care professionals

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

• Serves as a resource to other members of the health care team regarding provision of quality care.

• Provides continuity of care to patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting to achieve optimal patient outcomes and patient satisfaction

• Evaluates the quality of care provided and recommends changes for improvement.

• Performs procedures as warranted

• Correctly recognizes and manages toxicities of cellular therapies including cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity, and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.

Participation in all required activities to obtain/maintain site certification and accreditation for cellular therapies (i.e., REMS programs FACT)

• Take call as required.

• May provide on call coverage mutually scheduled by supervising physician and Advanced Practice Providers. (On-call coverage is not a mandatory requirement of "practice".) Call responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Responding to patient/family phone calls

• Rounding in the hospital on weekends and holidays or as requested by the supervising physician.

• Evaluating/managing outpatients in the hospital or Tennessee Oncology Infusion Room on weekends and holidays.

• Admitting patients to the hospital as needed

• Contacting supervising physician for appropriate back-up as needed

• ACLS if required by the hospital

• Other duties as requested by the supervising MD.

II) Teaching

• Educates patient and family on the treatment plan proposed.

• Utilizes a variety of age and culturally appropriate teaching methods such as diagrams, handouts, booklets.

• Facilitates patient decision making of discontinuing active cancer treatment while optimizing supportive care.

• Educates cancer survivors regarding their risk of long-term effects of cancer and its treatment.

• Provides formal and informal education to staff in oncology care.

• Provides onboarding and orientation of new APPs to inpatient role as necessary

• Participates in the development of educational materials for patients and healthcare providers.

• Presents updates in cancer care and specialty specific information to professionals at the local, regional, and national levels.

• Recognizes the value of providing oncology education and support to the lay community by participating in community discussions, support groups, and informal consultation.

III) Communication

• Reports patient information in an accurate, timely manner.

• Complies with inpatient and outpatient documentation requirements

• Works effectively with others and utilizes the chain of command.

• Collaborates with other health disciplines to ensure continuity and quality of care.

• Represents the APP in departmental and board meetings and shares information with the APP group.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Current knowledge of inpatient malignant hematology/oncology and cellular therapy

• Ability to work independently.

• Knowledge of Tennessee Oncology Advanced Practice Provider Guidelines.

• Knowledge of the Advanced Practice Practitioner as outlined in the Tennessee Oncology Policy and Procedure Manual.

• Skills certification as required by the APPs specific role including but not limited to, BMBx, skin punch biopsies, paracentesis, and specialized accessing of chemotherapy delivery devices.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• License to practice as NP or PA in the state of Tennessee required.

• Master's degree in nursing or certification as a Physician Assistant required.

• National certification as Nurse Practitioner (American Nurses' Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) or Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants required

• BLS Provider credentialed from American Heart Association (AHA) obtained prior to hire date