Oncology Nurse Practitioner Competencies: Defining Best Practices in the Oncology Setting
Lorinda A. Coombs, Kimberly Noonan, Fedricker Diane Barber, Heather Mackey, Mary Peterson, Tamika Turner, Kristine B. LeFebvre
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The oncology nurse practitioner (ONP) role has evolved since the first ONP competencies were published by the Oncology Nursing Society in 2007. An update was completed in 2019 to reflect the rapidly expanding role. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this article is to describe the process of the ONP competency development and identify potential applications across a variety of oncology settings. METHODS: The team performed an extensive literature review of the research about ONP practice across the cancer care continuum. Peer and expert review were conducted to ensure the competencies were comprehensive and relevant. FINDINGS: The ONP competencies provide a solid, evidence-based benchmark to standardize the ONP role and practice, thereby ensuring that patients receive the highest-quality cancer care.