A Dedicated Education Unit and a Novel Resident Nurse Transition-to-Practice Program in an Ambulatory Oncology Setting.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize an innovative initiative in oncology nurse workforce development that addresses critical current and future gaps and encompasses use of dedicated education units for student nurse rotation and a transition-to-practice residency program. DATA SOURCES: Review of institutional data including original pilot analysis and ongoing programmatic metrics (N=8 years), consensus, professional guidelines, and published literature. CONCLUSION: The dedicated education unit serves as a conduit for recruitment into institutional oncology nurse residency positions, and retention rates in the residency program continue to exceed national averages. Subsequent mentoring of these nurses in transition to practice has manifested high rates of promotion into nurse leadership roles year over year. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurse practice incorporates state-of-the-science approved therapies, early phase clinical trial implementation, and evidence-based complex oncology patient care management. A new model of student clinical nurse rotations in ambulatory settings, nurse resident transition to practice, and ongoing leadership mentoring is essential in creating a sustainable, highly skilled, and robust oncology nurse work force.

From Student to Practicing Oncology Nurse: A Novel Collaboration to Create a Transition to Practice Program in Ambulatory Cancer Care.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare reform and the shift of care to the ambulatory setting has created challenges for preparing nurses to practice in these complex clinical settings. Oncology is an area where dramatic transitions to ambulatory care have occurred, and the ambulatory oncology setting holds great potential for teaching evidence-based care to nursing students. OBJECTIVES: The article summarizes the collaboration between a baccalaureate nursing program and a cancer clinic to establish a dedicated education unit (DEU). METHODS: A pilot project was undertaken to create the DEU and residency program. FINDINGS: The collaboration has provided a clinical setting for baccalaureate nursing students to learn and develop clinical competencies, advance their critical thinking skills, and enhance advanced pathophysiology knowledge. The scope of the program includes a transition-to-practice model which maximizes the use of the DEU as students graduate and are eligible to apply for the oncology residency program. The DEU has created a pipeline for new nurses.