Quality Improvement
The Development of an Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist Fellowship Program
Allison Ann de Villiers,(1) MSN, APRN-CNS, OCN®, ACNS-BC, Lisa Maree Blackburn,(1) MS, APRN-CNS, RN-BC, AOCNS®, Danette Birkhimer,(1) MS, APRN-CNS, AOCNS®, Lynne R. Brophy,(1) MSN, APRN-CNS, RN-BC, AOCN®, Jamie Tippett,(1) MS, RN, NEA-BC, Karen Meade,(1) MS, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CPAN®, OCN®, and Carlton G. Brown,(2) PhD, RN, AOCN®, NEA-BC, FAAN
(1) The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC–James), Columbus, Ohio; (2) Zenith Healthcare Solutions, LLC, Palm Springs, California
Authors’ disclosures of conflicts of interest are found at the end of this article.
Allison Ann de Villiers,
MSN, APRN-CNS, OCN®, ACNS-BC, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, 460 W 10th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210.
E-mail: allison.devilliers@osumc.edu
J Adv Pract Oncol 2019;10(8):775–787 |
https://doi.org/10.6004/jadpro.2019.10.8.2 |
© 2019 Harborside™
ABSTRACT
New graduate clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) face many challenges when starting their new role. To address this, a CNS fellowship program was developed to mentor new CNSs during their first year of practice. This CNS fellowship program would provide opportunities to increase skills related to each of the CNS spheres of influence, including nursing practice, patient care, and systems and organization. Experienced CNSs mentored CNS fellows and identified learning opportunities. The fellows completed an online self-assessment based on the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists CNS Competency Checklist during week one of orientation and again at months 3, 6, 9, and 12. The CNS fellows completed and presented three projects designed to explore the spheres of the CNS role, along with a formal onboarding. The results of the fellowship depicted significant competency development within all three CNS spheres at program completion. The CNS fellowship program provided structure and guidance to the newly graduated CNSs and clearly transitioned staff nurses to advanced practice nurses. The fellowship has demonstrated a positive effect on both the new CNSs and the organization in which it was developed.
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