| Learning Objective #1: Identify two oncology subspecialties encountered by fellowship participants | |||
| Learning Objective #2: List one of the principle components of the cancer nursing fellowship |
Baccalaureate level nursing curriculum has limited cancer nursing content, diminishing the attractiveness of the oncology specialty to new graduate nurses. The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) nursing leadership team developed and implemented a program creating an opportunity for nursing students to practice with expert oncology nurse clinicians. The MGH Cancer Nursing Fellowship is a ten-week, paid, precepted clinical experience, designed to enhance interest in and commitment to oncology nursing as a substantive area of practice.
The Fellowship affords nursing students between their junior and senior year an opportunity to experience oncology nursing, and to participate in the multiple roles within this specialty. Fellows are provided with both inpatient and outpatient experiences in an arena rich with clinical experts. The Fellowship is specifically intended to engage undergraduate nursing students in a way that recognizes their level of clinical skills and strengths, and that builds, in a protected way, on those strengths. This program promotes oncology nursing as a diverse and multifaceted professional subspecialty. Fellows and preceptors collaboratively manage encounters with patients and families, allowing the Fellow to build a body of personal oncology nursing experience. Fellows have opportunities to develop collegial relationships with oncology nurses from all levels of nursing from clinical nurse to advanced practitioner. Each Fellow is able to select an area of primary interest, creating an opportunity to witness the unique contributions of each member of the interdisciplinary care team. These clinical experiences are intended to energize and inform the Fellows’ future nursing practice.
This presentation will provide a detailed description of the project, principle components/curriculum, and evaluation plan. The Fellowship program is a key intervention to recruit the next generation of oncology nurses. Future plans include expanding Fellowship opportunities to faculty members, to foster clinical expertise transmissible to the undergraduate curriculum.
Back to Accepted Posters
Back to 37th Biennial Convention - Clinical Sessions
Sigma Theta Tau International