title: Bridging the gap: a descriptive study of knowledge and skill needs in the first year of oncology nurse practitioner practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the knowledge and skill needs of oncology nurse practitioners (ONPs) as they enter cancer care practice, and to identify necessary educational resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national e-mail survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  610 self-described ONPs from the Oncology Nursing Society's database.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project team developed a 28-item electronic survey. The survey was randomly distributed via e-mail.
  
  
  METHODS
  ONPs' feelings of preparedness in the first year of ONP practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first year of practice, 90% of ONPs rated themselves as prepared or very prepared in obtaining patient history, performing physical examination, and documenting findings. ONPs rated themselves as not at all or somewhat prepared in clinical issues of chemotherapy/biotherapy competency (n = 81, 78%), recognizing and managing oncologic emergencies, (n = 77, 70%), and recognizing and managing drug toxicities (n = 63, 61%). The primary source of oncology education for ONPs new to practice was almost exclusively the collaborating or supervising physician (n = 84, 81%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Specific knowledge and skills, such as information about chemotherapy, oncologic emergencies, and side effects of therapy, are needed before an ONP enters a cancer care practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cancer-specific education should be made available to new ONPs as they begin independent practice.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, USA. mros@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giblin
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mickle
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheehy
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.lastname: Bridging The Gap Working Group
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States