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Masters Specialty Area
| FYI/Facts: Oncology Specialty | |
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The Advanced Practice Oncology Nurse.
Despite the fact that cancer remains the nation's second leading cause of death, researchers have made staggering advances in the prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease, especially with help from the rapidly growing field of genomics. Advanced practice nurses play critical roles in cancer prevention and detection, as well as in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of new ways to care for adults with cancer.
Clinical Nurse Specialists and Advanced Practice Oncology/Genomics Nurses work in leadership positions in clinical practice (adult cancer control or acute and chronic oncology care), case management, research, and education. Settings include outpatient clinics, hospitals, homecare, and hospice.
Oncology/Gerontology Nurse Practitioners provide direct patient care to older adults with cancer, in settings that include outpatient clinics and skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, homecare, and hospice.
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| "To be exposed to these extraordinary women and men, these fascinating lectures, it was all so relevant. I remember thinking to myself that every nurse that I worked with would love this. It all made sense to me." Judy Passaglia, RN, CNS, Oncology/Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mills Peninsula Health Services |
Cancer prevention and management is not simply a matter of understanding individual biology. Psychological concerns that contribute to health habits, as well as the patient's home life, community, and physical environment all play a role. A nurse's holistic training is ideally suited for playing a central role in the prevention and management of this disease.
Our program teaches the skills needed to work effectively in a variety of cancer care settings, to evaluate clinical outcomes and to promote high quality, cost-effective care. In many cases, prestigious and unique clinical sites provide hands-on experience. Students with particular interests in research have opportunities to work with prominent faculty researchers.
The core curriculum includes:
The Oncology specialty curriculum includes:
Students complete the Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist option in two years and emerge prepared for advanced clinical practice, leadership, research support and education positions in adult cancer control or acute and/or chronic oncology care settings.
The Oncology/Genomics Advanced Practice Nurse dual option is also a two-year program. It prepares graduates for emerging roles in the science of cancer genetics. This unique program offers the opportunity to study emerging knowledge in genomics science and its use in clinical practice. The program emphasizes screening for genetics predisposition, the genetics of cancer and other adult illness, and the use of genetically engineered technologies and therapies. Genomics is offered as a minor and genomics courses may function as electives. The courses include:
The three-year Oncology/Gerontology Nurse Practitioner specialty offers a limited number of students the opportunity to prepare for a role as a nurse practitioner with expertise in gerontology and oncology. Throughout this program, students focus their learning objectives on the management of cancer illness in the older adult. Interested students should refer to the section describing the Gerontological Nurse Practitioner specialty for a description of their first two years of study. Students complete the Oncology advanced practice courses in their third year of study.
Students with an interest in areas other than general oncology, genomics and gerontology can customize their coursework and clinical experiences. Students can work with faculty to design alternative programs of study, such as pediatric oncology -- if possible and supported by School of Nursing resources.
Our graduates go on to become Clinical Nurse Specialists, Case Managers, Clinical Coordinators, Managers, Clinical Educators, Clinical Researchers, and other leadership positions in both established and evolving cancer programs across a variety of settings.
| "To find after graduation that I was able to take advantage of all these
great opportunities -- there is much you're prepared to do -- that was more than I'd expected. It really was a phenomenal program." Judy Passaglia, RN, CNS, Oncology/Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mills Peninsula Health Services |
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Marylin Dodd, RN, PhD, FAAN, is an Associate Dean at the UCSF School of Nursing and co-directs the Oncology Program. She is involved in a program of research that tests self-care interventions to manage the side effects of cancer treatment, and symptoms of cancer. These randomized clinical trials include research team members from the schools of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, and exercise physiology. She also serves as a nurse scientist to the National Children's Oncology Group and the Oncology Nursing Society Research Advisory Panel, serves on several editorial boards, and is a reviewer for many professional journals.
Theresa Koetters, RN, MS, co-directs the Oncology Program and was a practicing Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist for 18 years in settings that include inpatient, outpatient, homecare, radiation therapy, and hospice. (She continues to practice part-time in a busy Medical Oncology practice combining the administering of IV chemotherapy, patient/family education, symptom management and psychosocial support.) Her teaching activities include the Cancer Prevention and Early Detection course as well as the Clinical Nurse Specialist Residency Seminar. She also assists with genetics courses as Faculty of Record for the Genetic Counselors and coordinates the practicums and residencies for the Masters Students.
"The Oncology Masters Program here at UCSF has produced a cadre of colleagues who are critical thinkers and movers and shakers in the specialty. There are many graduates who are successfully functioning in a variety of advanced practice roles or other leadership positions. It is an honor to shepherd students through the program and watch their knowledge and skills increase and improve quarter by quarter."
Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, FAAN, chairs the Department of Physiological Nursing. Her research focuses on evaluating the deleterious effects of unrelieved pain and developing strategies to improve the management of pain. She is currently testing the effectiveness of a self-care strategy to improve the management of cancer-related pain. Her teaching interests center on pain mechanisms and management and the complex care of the oncology patient.
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Judy Passaglia
Class of 1997
"I am now the oncology/palliative care clinical nurse specialist at Mills Peninsula Health Services. In that role I've developed an interdisciplinary palliative care program for patients with terminal illness in which I do pain and symptom management, coach staff, patients, and families, and serve as a liaison between the family and the entire team.
"I had spent twenty years as a staff nurse before entering the program and had gotten to the point where I'd stopped pushing myself. Returning to school was frightening at the time, but I found the program to be stimulating and supportive; it more than met my need. To be exposed to these extraordinary women and men, these fascinating lectures, it was all so relevant. I remember thinking to myself that every nurse that I worked with would love this. It all made sense to me.
"And then to find after graduation that I was able to take advantage of all these great opportunities -- there is much you're prepared to do -- that was more than I'd expected. It really was a phenomenal program."
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Details on the required courses for the program are available by from the specialty co-directors.
Q: What courses will I be required to take?
A: There is a Masters Core Curriculum required across all specialties. In addition, there are four required oncology specific courses scheduled over the course of the two years: Cancer Prevention & Early Detection, Complex Cancer/AIDS Care, Oncology Seminar on Chemotherapy, and Common Problems in Cancer Care. Several recommended electives are also available over the course of the program: Human Responses to Pain and End-of-Life care. Your advisor will outline your first quarter for you during student orientation.
Q: When and where will I start my clinical hours (400 clinical hours are required to be certified as a Clinical Specialist in the state of California)?
A: You will arrange your clinical hours with your advisor, usually after the first or second quarter. Hours are divided between practicums and a residency. The practicum can be as few as 3 hours per week up to 12 hours per week for 10 weeks with a clinical preceptor in order to learn a skill or achieve a very discrete body of knowledge. You will complete your residency during the last quarter of the second year. The residency is usually 24 hours per week for 10 weeks with a practicing Clinical Nurse Specialist in order to focus on role immersion. Sites range from the large medical centers, UCSF or Stanford, to community hospital settings like Alta Bates in Berkeley, Mills Peninsula in San Mateo, to Marin General in Greenbrae.
Q: What types of clinical experiences are available?
A: Inpatient, outpatient, Radiation Therapy, Homecare, Hospice, and Palliative Care to name a few. There are Clinical Nurse Specialists specializing in Breast Cancer care, Leukemia/Lymphoma, and many others.
Q: Who will be my advisor? When will I meet my advisor?
A: Advisors are assigned over the summer prior to the beginning of the new school year. You will learn who your advisor is -- and probably meet him or her -- during New Student Orientation. If not, you can make an appointment with your advisor during the first week of school.
Q: What can I do to make my application "glowing"?
A: Each applicant is reviewed as a whole. Goal statement, letters of reference, extracurricular activities, language skills, activities on-the-job, research activities, work experience, professional organization activities, and GPA are ALL considered when the application is reviewed. List all of these aspects. Be sure to ask colleagues to review your goal statement. Include examples of on-the job activities. Describe any volunteer and professional activities. Make sure to ask your colleagues for "excellent" references and have them give specific reasons why they believe in your success.
Q: What does my GPA need to be for admission into the program?
A: A GPA of 3.0 is expected for admission into the School of Nursing although special circumstances can be discussed.
Q: What should I write in my goal statement?
A: You should be very clear about why you selected the specific specialty you are applying to. Your statement should reflect how you have made this decision and your future goals.
Q: How much can I work during the program?
A: The majority of our students hold part-time jobs while enrolled (typically working 50-60% time). Working full time while in school is highly discouraged. Consult with the specialty coordinator for more information about program specifics.
Q: What if I want to study part-time?
A: Over 95% of our students study full time and complete their program in two years. The majority of specialties hold classes two days a week (Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday) to allow for part-time work and family obligations. "Official" part-time status is highly restricted and is available only by special arrangement. In certain circumstances, also by special arrangement, faculty will allow a student to extend a two-year program over three years.
Q: Am I responsible for finding my own preceptors?
A: The faculty will work with you to find the preceptors who are best suited for your area of specialization. Our experience is that students often provide input in selecting and planning their clinical experiences and participate in this process of selecting preceptors.
Q: How do I find housing in the area? Is it expensive?
A: Many of our students find that sharing housing is a good approach to solving both the availability and cost issues. Housing in the Bay Area may be expensive, but help can be found with the campus Housing Office, the Student Affairs Office, and previous graduates can often give advice.
Q: What will help me prepare for school?
A: Rest and relaxation before school starts is helpful! Also computer proficiency with word processing and internet/web/email functions is essential.
| Quick-Links: Oncology | ||||||||||||
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| Definition | |
Program | |
Faculty | |
Graduates | |
Courses | |
Questions | |
Applying |
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| Revised: Feb. 2008 | Contact: info@nursing.ucsf.edu · © Copyright 2008 University of California Regents, All Rights Reserved. | |||||||||||||
