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Oncology Nursing Society
ONS Introduces
New Courses and
Competencies
POST-MASTER’S FOUNDATION IN CANCER CARE
FOR THE ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDER
Many advanced practice nurses who are just entering oncology
are concerned about building their new knowledge and skills
base. The ONS Post-Master’s Foundation in Cancer Care for the
Advanced Practice Provider was launched in 2013 to
help nurse practitioners, physician assistants,
and clinical nurse specialists who are new
to oncology to confidently and safely
care for patients with cancer. This
self-paced online course uses a
Oncology nurse navigators look to ONS as their
variety of resources, including
professional organization to clearly define the role
clinical guidelines and interand to help with program development,” said Lori
active learning activities,
to provide students with
McMullen, MSN, RN, OCN®, team lead for the Oncology
essential evidence-based
Nurse Navigator Core Competency Project and
content.
oncology nurse navigator at University Medical Center
“
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of Princeton in Plainsboro, NJ. “The core competencies
ONCOLOGY NURSE
NAVIGATOR CORE
COMPETENCIES
provide oncology nurse navigators with foundational
EDUCATOR
RESOURCE CENTER
With cancer survivorship
as well as the incidence of
which translates into improved quality of cancer care
cancer growing rapidly, nursCore competencies for
es and nursing students must
for patients and caregivers.”
oncology nurse navigators and
be aware of the critical elements
a clear definition of the role were
of cancer care. That’s why ONS conidentified as a gap in the profestinued to expand the Educator Resource
sion. To fill this gap, ONS gathered a
Center (ERC) in 2013, which helps staff edteam of oncology nurse navigators and
ucators and nursing professors prepare others to
conducted an extensive literature review, rigorous
care for patients with or at risk for cancer. The ERC provides
field review, and an expert review. In 2013, we released the
a wide variety of teaching tools, learner assessments, and instrucOncology Nurse Navigator Core Competencies, a compilation of
tor resources that can be integrated into existing curricula or used
40 competencies divided into four categories: education, profesto develop new educational activities. With an annual subscription,
sionalism, coordination of care, and communication. Also included
educators can spend more time teaching and less time searching
are an oncology nurse navigator practice framework and a clear
for instructional materials.
definition of what an oncology nurse navigator does.
tools to grow and develop strong navigation programs,
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