Advanced Practice Provider Fellow

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.

12-month post-graduate training program for newly graduated NPs (Nurse Practitioners) and PAs (Physician Assistant) who wish to transition into oncology-based care. The fellowship provides support and training during the transition to practice period and includes clinical rotations, didactic curriculum, self-study coursework, mentor, and peer support.

The program is open to newly graduated Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) looking to gain specialty exposure in general medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology and palliative care. This fellowship incorporates in-depth clinical training while affording protected educational time, which will help develop the APP as a well-rounded and extremely knowledgeable provider prepared to practice patient care in the cancer care continuum.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Curriculum Vitae

• Two letters of recommendations:

• One Academic (faculty, program director, clinical instructor, or preceptor)

• One Clinical (physician, peer, colleague, current or prior supervisor)

• Personal Statement- The personal statement offers applicants an opportunity to highlight their talents, experiences, and goals that set you apart from fellow candidates. Summarize your expectations and what you hope to gain from this oncology fellowship and how this would impact your role as an advanced practice provider. Personal statements should be no more than 500 words, typed and double spaced and should be in your own words and not AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated.

APP provides care in a variety of settings served by Tennessee Oncology. APP provides quality care to specific populations in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, active treatment, and palliative care with the multidisciplinary healthcare team. The APP role includes the assessment, diagnosis, and management of cancer or related disorders. 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

• Advance knowledge of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of blood diseases and cancer.  
• Enhance utilization of integrated evidence-based practice into patient care
• Strengthen critical thinking and gain proficiency in delivering comprehensive care to patients with cancer and blood diseases.
• Assesses the physical and psychosocial status of patients.
• Obtains and documents comprehensive health history.
• Performs and documents complete, system-focused, symptom-specific physical exams. 
• 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.
• Conducts a pharmacologic assessment, including prescriptions drugs, over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements, and other complementary or alternative therapies.
• Recognizes deviations from normal in the physical assessment.
• Orders and interprets findings of ancillary data, including laboratory and diagnostic tests.
• Prioritizes findings identify urgent or highest priority patient problems.
• Identifies patients who may be eligible for entry into clinical trials based on clinical findings.
• 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.
• Order entry into EMR, 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.
• Administers therapeutic measures and obtains specimens in accordance with practice guidelines.
• 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 resource to other members of the health care team regarding provision of quality care.
• Provides care for patients participating in clinical trials.
• Evaluates the quality of care provided and recommends changes for improvement.
• Performs procedures as warranted by clinic needs such as Bone Marrow Biopsies
• Take call as required by clinic need.

• 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 Saturday and Sunday or as requested by the supervising                       physician.

              Responding to hospital phone calls

              Admitting patients to the hospital as needed

•  Maintains current certification in Basic Life Support for the healthcare provider.  
• Other duties as requested by the supervising MD.  

II) Teaching

• Educates patient and family on treatment plan proposed.
• Utilizes various ages 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.
• 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.
• Edits dictation.
• 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 department and board meetings and shares information with APP group.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of Tennessee Oncology Advanced Practice Provider Guidelines.
• Knowledge of the Advanced Practice Practitioner as outlined in the Tennessee Oncology Policy and Procedure Manual. 
• BLS (Basic Life Support) certification preferred but not required

EDUCATION, LICENSURE, AND CERTIFICATION PREREQUISITES

• Graduated from an accredited nurse practitioner or physician assistant program prior to the fellowship program start date.
• Proof of Undergraduate/ Graduate Transcripts
• 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 APP (American Nurses' Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners) or Certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants required