Nursing Practice Specialist

General Overview

The Clinical Nurse Specialist/Nurse Practice Specialist (CNS/NPS) for the Cancer Center Protocol Office is a masters prepared nurse with a specialization in Oncology who promotes competent, compassionate, evidence-based professional practice to nursing and other research team members caring for patients participating in clinical trials. The CCPO CNS/NPS is primarily responsible for supporting the CCPO research nurses within the Cancer Center disease groups/programs outside of the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies, however, the CNS/NPS will also be a resource for the inpatient and outpatient nursing teams caring for clinical trial participants. The role focuses on promoting excellent nursing practice and optimal patient and research outcomes through teaching, consultation, and programmatic development.

Applicants for this position should be energetic leaders that are committed to teamwork and able to motivate others towards change. They should be skilled at managing conflict and initiating/maintaining collaborative relationships with peers, staff, administration, and interdisciplinary health team members with varying levels of experience and roles. This position will report to the CCPO Nurse Director and will work closely with both Protocol Office and Patient Care Services (PCS) leadership to ensure optimal care of research patients and maintain the integrity of research activities.

Job Description:

1. Clinical Practice: Demonstrates excellence in professional nursing practice.

1.1. Supports independent research nursing practice through collaborative, consultative, and role modeling activities.

1.2. Identifies current trends in health care and their implication for research nursing practice.

1.3. Collaborates with nursing leadership and staff to respond to changes in clinical practice by designing, implementing or evaluating guidelines, protocols and standards.

1.4. Identifies ethical issues in nursing practice and guides staff and other providers in application of ethical concepts to patient care issues.

1.5. Applies innovative approaches to solving complex problems.

1.6. Provides oversight of the protocol management system and protocol activation activities. Delegates tasks to Research Nursing team.

2. Education - Plans and delivers relevant staff and patient education to nurses and other members of the health care team on matters regarding plan of care of the patient and family.

2.1. Oversees orientation of new research nurses and supports and mentors nurses acting in the preceptor role.

2.2. Develops, implements, and evaluates educational programs related to clinical trials based upon assessed learning needs of research nurses and CCPO staff.

2.3. Supports, participates, and contributes to educational programs related to clinical trials for staff at the unit/service/interdepartmental level.

2.4. Mentors nursing staff and facilitates their growth and development in the research nurse role.

3. Expert consultation: Provides expert consultation to patients, families, nurses, and other health care providers to promote positive patient care and research outcomes.

3.1. Initiates, facilitates, and develops interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and settings in which clinical trials are conducted.

3.2. Acts as a resource to colleagues and consumers, providing consultation at the unit, program, service, administrative, and community level(s).

3.3. Serves as a consult to research and other nurses when reading and interpreting clinical trial protocols

4. Quality Improvement and research: Participates in activities that will positively affect patient care, research and patient care outcomes.

4.1. Analyzes clinical and non-clinical variables to anticipate the feasibility of clinical trials and their impact on clinical operations and patient care.

4.2. Continually evaluates quality and safety performance, identifies improvement opportunities, and plans and implements programs for improvement.

4.3. Uses nursing theories and research findings to plan, design, evaluate nursing practice and to generate researchable clinical problems.

4.4. Promotes staff and student utilization of the quality improvement and research process.

5. Personal and professional growth: Demonstrates accountability for ongoing personal/professional development

5.1. Maintains and updates clinical knowledge and skills based on current nursing and health care practices.

5.2. Identifies own learning needs and goals. Designs a plan to meet them.

5.3. Takes responsibilities for leadership and participation on committees and task forces of the DFHCC, CCPO and the hospital including participation in an IRB.

5.4. Participates in activities that foster peer support and networking

5.5. Fulfills professional role through involvement in professional organization activities, presentations, and publications.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Nursing required.
• Current Massachusetts RN License required.
• NPS/CNS experience preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of oncology nursing experience required including medical oncology.
• Research Nursing experience preferred.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Requirements

a. Graduation from a graduate degree program with a clinical practicum designed to prepare the graduate for practice as a CNS that is approved by a national accrediting organization for academic programs acceptable to the Board; and

b. Successful completion of, at minimum, core content at the graduate level in advanced assessment, advanced pathophysiology and advanced pharmacotherapeutics.

c. Current CNS certification granted by a Board recognized certifying organization

-OR-

Nursing Practice Specialist Requirements

a. Master's degree in Nursing.

Massachusetts General Hospital is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.