Oncology

Program Description

The Oncology Nurse Practitioner subspecialty prepares advanced practice nurses to assume a leadership role in the delivery of care to the oncology patient and family. Students in this program will be prepared to manage the physical and psychosocial care needs of individuals with cancer and their families across the illness trajectory. Through participation in this program, students will:

Perform cancer risk assessments for diverse populations including the general population, high risk individuals and cancer survivors
Develop skills in diagnosis and management of common cancers; the diagnostic process includes critical thinking, differential diagnosis and interpretation of data
Perform assessments of patients with cancer that includes an evaluation of manifestations and toxicities related to cancer and its treatment
Use evidence based practice guidelines to guide prevention strategies, screening activities and health promotion
Assist patients and families in coping with the illness and its potential or expected outcomes
Coordinate palliative and end of life care in collaboration with patients, families, caregivers and members of the multi disciplinary healthcare team
Assess actual or potential late effects of cancer and its treatment including secondary cancers, cardiomyopathy, pulmonary dysfunction, etc. in cancer survivors

The Oncology Nurse Practitioner subspecialty prepares students to excel as advanced practice nurses in a variety of primary and acute settings, including comprehensive cancer centers, community hospitals, ambulatory clinics, private practice, palliative care settings and hospice. Graduates of the Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner program are eligible for certification through the ANCC or AANP. In addition, students will be prepared to obtain certification as an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP) by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) pending required clinical hours. Graduates of the Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner program are eligible for certification through the ANCC or the NCBPNP/N. In addition, students will be prepared to obtain certification as a Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) by the ONCC pending required clinical hours.

The Program Director of the Oncology Nurse Practitioner sub-specialty is Susan Doyle-Lindrud, DNP APN.

Clinical Sites

Clinical sites are available in the tri-state area and beyond. Clinical sites vary in setting and you may be assigned a location at a cancer center, hospital or ambulatory care clinic.

Curriculum

For Students Who Hold an Undergraduate Degree in Nursing
For master’s students in adult, family, pediatrics, acute care, women’s health or psychiatric/mental health primary care NP programs:

Students will complete all coursework for the primary specialty as well as specialized oncology coursework.
Students will have a clinical placement in an oncology setting.
The Oncology Nurse Practitioner subspecialty requires you choose between the adult or pediatric oncology track (see sample coursework below).

A sample program plan for the Oncology Nurse Practitioner Subspecialty program is provided below to make you aware of the academic requirements of the program. Please be advised that this is a sample listing, and individual plans of study are reviewed and approved upon acceptance to the program. Progression in the program is contingent upon meeting academic policies. The School of Nursing reserves the right to change the course offering schedule as stated in the student bulletin.

Sample Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner Subspecialty Program

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Fall I: 2 Credits
N6740	Principles and Practice of Oncology I	2
Spring I: 2 Credits
N6880	Principles and Practice of Oncology II	2
Fall II: 3-5 Credits
N8750	Symptom Management and Palliative Care for Oncology Nurse Practitioner Students	2
N8751	Practicum for Symptom Management and Palliative Care for Oncology Nurse Practitioner Students	1-3
Total Credits		7-9

Sample Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner Subspecialty Program

Course Number	Course Name	Credits
Fall I: 2 Credits
N6740	Principles and Practice of Oncology I	2
Spring I: 2 Credits
N8845	Cancer in Childhood	2
Fall II: 3-5 Credits
N8750	Symptom Management and Palliative Care for Oncology Nurse Practitioner Students	2
N8751	Practicum for Symptom Management and Palliative Care for Oncology Nurse Practitioner Students	1-3
Total Credits		7-9

School of Nursing

The School of Nursing has paved the way for professional nursing since 1892 and continues to lead the field as the foremost institution for advanced practice nursing.

The School of Nursing is a designated World Health Organization Collaborating Center for International Nursing Development in Advanced Practice. With urban clinical sites, expert faculty practitioners, cutting edge research, and the strength of the Columbia name and reputation, the School of Nursing produces graduates who possess the skills necessary to bring advanced practice nursing into the new millennium. As medical advances offer a cascade of new and useful therapies, the need for more health care providers will increase exponentially. Our country will face many health care challenges in the next 20 years, and nurse practitioners are essential to providing access to quality primary care.

Founded in 1892 as Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing, the School became part of Columbia University in 1937 and began offering the baccalaureate degree. It is one of the oldest schools of nursing in the US. In 1956, it became the first nursing program in the country to award a master’s degree in a clinical nursing specialty. In 1999, the School granted its first doctoral degree. More than 10,000 nurses have graduated since the School opened.

The School shares the Columbia University Health Sciences Campus with the Mailman School of Public Health, the School of Dental and Oral Surgery, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Each of these schools adds to the richness and diversity of the educational experience of students and faculty.

School of Nursing faculty have substantial experience in curriculum, instructional design, and research. They maintain expertise in their areas of teaching responsibility through participation at local, regional, and national conferences, involvement in scholarly presentations and publications, and faculty practice.

Columbia University School of Nursing is distinguished by the clinical excellence of its programs and graduates. Columbia nurses are making crucial contributions and improving the health of individuals wherever they practice.

This page was last updated on 01/24/2012 and is subject to change at any time.