Advanced Practice Provider

Tennessee Oncology•Cookeville, TN

About The Position

Tennessee Oncology’s Advanced Practice Provider (APP) provides care in a variety of settings served by the organization. The APP delivers quality care to specific populations across cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, active treatment, and palliative care as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team. The role includes assessment, diagnosis, and management of cancer and related disorders, using evidence-based literature and practice to improve health and healthcare for patients with a past, current, or potential cancer diagnosis. The APP assesses patients’ physical and psychosocial status, obtains health histories, conducts examinations, orders and interprets tests, identifies care priorities, and communicates care plans to patients, caregivers, physicians, and other healthcare team members. The role includes managing cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, supporting patients and families, providing care to clinical-trial participants, and performing procedures as warranted by clinic needs. Call coverage may be provided as mutually scheduled with the supervising physician and other APPs; it is not a mandatory practice requirement. The APP also educates patients, families, staff, healthcare professionals, and the community; collaborates with other disciplines; and contributes to quality improvement and continuity of care. The position requires a Tennessee RN or PA license, an applicable graduate-level nursing or physician assistant qualification, and national APP certification. Oncology experience is preferred. APPs without oncology experience are expected to work as a staff nurse for at least one month before transitioning into the APP role; APPs without sufficient Registered Nurse experience are required to work as a staff nurse for at least 12 months.

Requirements

License to practice as an RN or PA in Tennessee.
Master’s degree in nursing or certification as a Physician Assistant.
National APP certification through the American Nurses' Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, or Clinical Nurse Specialist certification meeting criteria for a certificate of fitness to prescribe medications, including AOCN, AOCNP, or AOCNS, or certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Current knowledge of oncology and primary care.
Ability to work independently.
Knowledge of Tennessee Oncology Advanced Practice Provider Guidelines and the Advanced Practice Practitioner provisions in the Tennessee Oncology Policy and Procedure Manual.
Tennessee Oncology skills certification as required by the specific clinic, which may include bone marrow biopsy, skin punch biopsy, paracentesis, and specialized access of chemotherapy delivery devices.
Maintain current Basic Life Support certification for healthcare providers.
Must be willing and able to lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to remain upright on the feet most of the time and in a stationary position half of the time.
Ability to communicate, distinguish sounds, and visualize; regular manual dexterity; occasional reaching or stretching and crouching or stooping.

Nice To Haves

A minimum of one year of oncology nursing experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ physical and psychosocial status and obtain and document comprehensive health histories.
Perform and document complete, system-focused, symptom-specific physical examinations.
Assess cancer symptoms, comorbidities, treatment response, disease progression or recurrence, and potential late effects of cancer and treatment.
Conduct pharmacologic assessments, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements, and complementary or alternative therapies.
Recognize assessment deviations, order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests, and prioritize urgent or high-priority problems.
Identify patients who may be eligible for clinical trials and provide care to patients participating in clinical trials.
Relay patient-care information to the collaborating physician and communicate care plans to patients, caregivers, and healthcare team members.
Write prescriptions and orders for medications, blood products, diagnostic and follow-up studies, therapeutic measures, and post-discharge care in accordance with written practice protocols.
Administer therapeutic measures and obtain specimens in accordance with practice guidelines.
Manage cancer symptoms and side effects related to cancer treatment; refer patients or request consultation from physicians and other healthcare professionals as appropriate.
Assist with family dynamics and coping mechanisms during acute and chronic phases of care.
Serve as a resource to the healthcare team, evaluate quality of care, and recommend improvements.
Perform procedures as warranted by clinic needs, such as bone marrow biopsies.
Provide call coverage as required by clinic needs or mutually scheduled; call duties may include responding to patient, family, and hospital calls, hospital rounds on weekends or when requested, admitting patients, and contacting the supervising physician for backup.
Maintain American Nursing Credentialing Center certification and current Basic Life Support certification.
Educate patients and families about proposed treatment plans, support informed decisions about discontinuing active treatment, and educate cancer survivors about long-term risks.
Provide formal and informal oncology education to staff and contribute to educational materials for patients and healthcare providers.
Present updates in cancer care to professionals and participate in community discussions, support groups, and informal consultation.
Report patient information accurately and promptly, edit dictation, work effectively with others, follow the chain of command, and collaborate across healthcare disciplines.
Represent APPs in department and board meetings and share information with the APP group.
Perform other duties as requested by the supervising MD.