Advanced Practice Provider, Research - Medical Oncology - Full Time

About the Role

The Advanced Practice Provider (APP) delivers medical care to a wide variety of patients within the oncology service line. The APP examines and treats patients independently and in autonomous collaboration with other health care professionals, ensuring proper illness and injury care, disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. May prescribe medications and order diagnostic tests, and advises patients about continuing care.

Responsibilities

Core Job Functions

• Performs and documents complete physical examinations and comprehensive health histories.
• Functions independently to perform age-appropriate history and physical for patients.
• Orders and interprets diagnostic and therapeutic tests relative to patient’s age-specific needs.
• Prescribes appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities.
• Implements interventions to support the patient to regain or maintain physiological stability.
• Assists with the provision of care in accordance with facility, state, and federal regulations.
• Monitors the effectiveness of interventions.
• Facilitates the patient’s transition within and between health care settings (e.g., admitting, transferring, and discharging patients).
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary team members by making appropriate referrals.
• Facilitates staff, patient, and family decision-making by providing educational tools.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

Department Specific Functions (Infusion/Comprehensive Treatment Unit - CTU)

• Provides Infusion/chemotherapy treatment unit (CTU) coverage at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC) main campus and/or satellite locations, including on-call, weekends, and cross coverage.
• Provides and coordinates patient teaching and counseling.
• Collaborates with physicians and other providers regarding patient care in all settings (outpatient and inpatient).
• Assures appropriate medical documentation according to Medical Staff policies/bylaws.
• Responds to emergencies and/or rapid responses.
• Assures the patient is transferred to the appropriate physician/specialty/hospital for continuation of care or when a higher level of care is necessary.
• Collaborates with pharmacy, nursing staff, and other disciplines to optimize the quality of care and time of patients treated at CTU.
• Refers to support services when needed.
• Precepts or mentors APP students, Fellows, nursing staff, and nursing students.
• Assists in the management of family dynamics and coping mechanisms during acute and chronic phases of patient care.
• Facilitates the coordination of outpatient care and services as needed.
• Promotes evidence-based practice.
• Obtains informed consent, as indicated.
• Participates in Unit Councils, QI/Research projects.
• Assists in optimizing infusion center workflows by providing direct patient care (e.g., injections, assuming charge role).
• Conducts monthly educational in-services on relevant infusion center topics.
• Performs patient triage, develops a plan of care, and determines urgency/escalation to the patient’s attending physician/provider.
• Provides symptom management for side effects related to cancer or treatment.
• Performs designated procedures after demonstrated competency and credentialing.
• Ensures compliance with legal, billing, regulatory, and clinical policies and procedures.
• Communicates daily with triage nurse regarding patients needing symptom management, evaluation, and treatment.

Clinical Role/Research

• Provides care to a select group of patients by determining and rendering advanced nursing and medical interventions.
• Assessment/Diagnosis:
  • Assesses patients by interviewing/examining, reviewing medical history, provider/physician/PI diagnosis, and diagnostic test results.
  • Reviews medical records, including physician/consultation notes, labs, and diagnostic test results.
  • Formulates medical diagnoses based on collected data.
  • Screens patients for clinical trials based on collected information.
  • Collaborates with referring physician or physician investigator (PI) to ascertain study patient eligibility for clinical trials.
  • Assesses patients for trial-related and non-trial-related symptoms and ensures evidence-based symptom management while maintaining trial compliance.
  • Collaborates with the principal investigator to determine if dose-limiting toxicity has been achieved during Phase I/dose escalation studies.
  • Works with clinic/triage nurse and PI to ensure timely callbacks regarding medical or study procedure concerns.
• Planning/Outcomes:
  • Develops a plan of care from assessment/diagnoses and physician/PI collaboration.
  • Identifies expected outcomes based on assessment/diagnoses and physician/PI collaboration.
  • Ensures initial and ongoing consent process is performed and documented in compliance with FDA, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and other regulations.
  • Participates in educating clinical trial patients about their trial and significant new information.
  • Ensures ordering and scheduling of all procedures/exams required for enrollment, adverse event assessment, and disease response evaluation.
  • Ensures adherence to protocol schedule of events, study drug, and other requirements.
  • Ensures successful completion of correlative components of the clinical trial (e.g., pharmacokinetics and quality of life studies).
  • Orders, prescribes, and recommends interventions in the plan of care reflecting expected outcomes.
• Implementation:
  • Institutes necessary actions as outlined in the plan of care.
  • Collaborates with research and primary care team members to ensure implementation of the plan.
  • Implements physician/PI orders per protocol.
  • Works with the study team to ensure good documentation clinical practices and source-related documentation.
  • Documents assessment, management, and evaluation in source documents for patients on clinical trials.
  • Documents adverse events according to CTCAE criteria.
  • Provides patient/family education regarding disease processes, treatment options, outcomes, complications, medications, and lifestyle modification.
  • Integrates current knowledge of professional issues and technological advances into scope of practice.
  • Communicates plan of care to team members.
  • Assists in managing family dynamics and coping mechanisms during acute and chronic phases of patient care.
• Evaluation:
  • Evaluates patient’s progress in attaining expected outcomes by following up with collaborating physician and staff.
  • Evaluates disease response results and physical assessment data in conjunction with the principal investigator.
  • Assures patient is transferred to appropriate physician/specialty once the study is completed.
• Consultation/Collaboration:
  • Consults with collaborating physician(s) on implementation, evaluation, and revision of the treatment plan.
  • Ensures ongoing formal and informal communication regarding clinical trials with team members.
  • Promotes compliance with key ethical concepts (e.g., informed consent, respect for persons, beneficence, justice).
  • Develops relationships with referring physicians, clinical staff, and ancillary departments to facilitate compliance and accrual to clinical trials.
  • Provides education related to clinical trials to staff, patients, and their significant others.
  • Advocates for clinical trial patients and the promotion and integrity of clinical trials.
  • Participates in community outreach efforts to provide general clinical trials education.
  • Coordinates care with the interdisciplinary health care team in developing and implementing the plan of care.
  • Conducts or participates in multidisciplinary rounds to ensure appropriate and quality care for patients.
  • Attends institutional PI and Site Disease Group (SDG) meetings to provide patient updates and identify potential enrollees.

Requirements

Education

• Master’s Degree or higher.

Certification and Licensing

• Florida Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) or Physician Assistant (PA) license.
• If APRN: Graduate of a master’s in science of nursing or higher curriculum.
• If PA: Graduate of a Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree.
• Board certification as APRN from a nationally accredited organization (e.g., ANCC or AANP).
• Board certification as a PA from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
• Current Certification in BLS and ACLS.
• CITI certification within one month of employment.
• ONS Chemotherapy Immunotherapy certificate on hire or during orientation.

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of relevant advanced practice provider experience.
• Preferred 2 years of experience in treating hematology/oncology patients.
• Preferred 1-2 years of experience in clinical research.

Professional Development

• AOCNP certification within one year of employment (applicable to APRN).
• Participates in 360 peer review process.
• Submits annual protocols to practice site.
• Maintains national certification.
• Attends one national conference.
• Attends monthly educational grand rounds or relevant in-house meetings.
• Able to author or contribute to an article.
• Apply for privileges for bone marrow biopsy, lumbar puncture, and Ommaya reservoir procedures within three months of hire.

Skills and Competencies

• Ability to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work under pressure while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and/or in a collaborative environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.

Benefits

The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and tuition remission.