The Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is an expert and patient advocate in a particular specialty or sub-specialty of nursing practice. This position manages a group of clinically complex or resource intensive patients. Management includes assessing, diagnosing, planning, and prescribing pharmacological (in a collaborative practice) and non-pharmacological treatment for health problems according to established protocols, standards of care, health promotion, and preventive care within a specialized area of practice. Performs the role of advanced practice nurse through clinical practice, education, research, and consultation with multidisciplinary groups utilizing a holistic approach to wellness. 

Essential Generic Job Functions (List in order of importance): 

1. Demonstrates clinical expertise and utilizes advanced assessment skills in areas of clinical specialty to propose intervention and/or action plan utilizing evidence-based research to achieve positive outcomes for patients and families.

2. Prioritizes and evaluates patient/family progress towards health outcome achievement utilizing a multidisciplinary approach.

3. Provides culturally appropriate health promotion and disease/injury prevention strategies based on age, learning theory, epidemiological principles, developmental levels, learning needs, readiness, and ability to learn.

4. Coordinates the development of evidenced-based practice protocols and standards of care that include interventions and treatments to achieve desired outcomes, including clinical, financial, and patient/family satisfaction.

5. Analyzes patterns of variance in practice making recommendations for evidence based changes to improve patient outcomes utilizing a multidisciplinary approach.

6. Facilitates and coordinates/participates in formal or informal educational programs which include mentoring.

7. Identifies educational needs of patients/families and collaborates with other multidisciplinary team members to develop programs and teaching materials.

8. Serves as a clinical resource person to nursing staff, patients/families, and other multidisciplinary team members across the continuum to evaluate complex patients and identify appropriate desired outcomes and interventions.

9. Evaluates protocols and standards of care in light of current research findings related to specialty area.

10. Utilizes and disseminates relevant research findings through clinical practice, education, or consultation.

11. Lifts a minimum of 5 lbs., pushes and pulls a minimum of 10 lbs. and stands a minimum of 6 hours a day.

12. Identifies the needs of the patient population served and modifies and delivers care that is specific to those needs (i.e., age, culture, language, hearing and/or visually impaired, etc.). This process includes communicating with the patient, parent, and/or primary caregiver(s) at their level (developmental/age, educational, literacy, etc.).

13. Adheres to the standards identified in RCCA’s Organizational Competencies.

14. All other duties assigned by management.

 Contacts: Regular contact with medical and administrative personnel, patients, and visitors.

• Knowledge, Education and Skills Required:
• Graduate of an NLN/AACN accredited program in nursing.
• Master’s degree.
• Maintains clinical competencies through participating in continuing educational programs (contact hours per years), and clinical practice as mandated by Board of Nursing and national certification body.
• Experience in oncology patient care setting or as regulations dictate.

• Current valid NJ State Professional Registered Nurse license.
• Maintains certification as APN in New Jersey.
• Maintains National or Board Certification as appropriate in area of specialty.
• Maintains American Heart Association Basic Life Support HCP certification.
• In collaborative agreement with physicians on staff- fulfills terms of collaborative agreement