Introduction
Obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) can provide a multitude of benefits to patients, professionals, and organizations through the expanded knowledge base and skill set. The oncology setting will be discussed in this paper, as an MSN in this clinical area has a high degree of responsibility. Nurse practitioners (NPs) have an obligation to assist oncologists, patients, and their families throughout each treatment process. A clinical team can expect an MSN to bring significant support for clinicians, researchers, and patients to the table.
Comparing Scope of Practice: Nurse Practitioners vs. Other Healthcare Providers
A registered nurse (RN) with MSN possesses a vast scope of practice in the oncology setting, as there is a necessity to help both patients and clinicians with treatment, planning, and research. Unlike an RN, an MSN has a deeper understanding of clinical processes in which they are involved, making their insight valuable to their team. An MSN needs to assess patients for their physical and psychological factors, communicate adaptively with them and their relatives, and share knowledge regarding treatment and its outcomes (Coombs et al., 2020).
Interventions in treatments are also vital, and they must be based on an individual’s data. Synthesis of information regarding a patient’s condition and its delivery to the team is also within the scope of an MSN’s practice (Coombs et al., 2020). It is also essential to note adverse cancer therapy events and report them to clinicians. Therefore, an MSN becomes a stakeholder in research through surveillance for possible eligibility for trials (Ah et al., 2019). Simultaneously, a nurse must be able to identify evidence valuable for each patient case, focusing on various priorities throughout their workflow and documenting their observations and arguments for decisions.
Such an advanced role infers additional responsibilities to an RN due to the necessity to assist with complex tasks, such as randomized clinical trials, as anticancer therapies continue to expand. Considering the high number of characteristics involved in such a process, their documentation is critical in experimental interventions conducted by healthcare institutions (Del Paggio et al., 2021). Moreover, this task comes with additional responsibility for decision-making for an MSN, who now has to evaluate possible outcomes, including complications.
Core Values in NP Practice: Enhancing Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
An MSN in the oncology setting has to comprehend the extent of the long- and short-term effects of drugs and therapies recommended to clinicians through the data they gather. For example, an MSN can add value to their team by correctly identifying the most valuable characteristics for future research, such as patients’ reactions to trial therapy in correlation with their individual parameters and health status (Ah et al., 2019). Due to the complexity of consultations with other specialists, such as radiologists, the role of an MSN requires a high level of academic knowledge in this field of study. In turn, professionals from other disciplines, such as surgeons and general practitioners, can gain significant insight into a patient’s status by cooperating with an MSN.
MSNs in this setting work closely with oncologists to conduct proper treatment and with patients and their families to educate them on the prospects of a life with cancer. For example, an MSN produces reports regarding the necessity for multidisciplinary interventions through an in-depth analysis of patient-reported symptoms stemming from their therapy, improving future therapy outcomes (Schmitz et al., 2019). An MSN has the task of connecting data they collect from a multitude of sources into a comprehensive format for reports used in both research and further treatment.
Optimal Care Models: Utilizing Nurse Practitioners as Key Providers
The individualized model of care plays a crucial role in the oncology setting due to the necessity of connecting with patients throughout their treatment process. Optimal care in oncology relies on the ability of an MSN to navigate between professionals, a patient’s symptoms and personal preferences, and possible treatments (Wallace et al., 2019). This notion implies the need to deliver the information to a person in a deliberate format that will prompt them to assess the feasibility of such a path. By taking an individual’s personal sensibilities, such as cultural and ethnic, an MSN can expect a higher chance to succeed in their persuasion. This model guides an MSN in oncology throughout their practice to instill the idea that a personalized approach is essential in improving both patient outcomes and the effects of a selected treatment path.
An MSN can enhance this clinical setting through the excellence of collected data for future research on treatment options and outcomes, as well as through supporting oncologists’ research and planning of procedures. Due to the educational preparation, an MSN can improve patient outcomes through contributions to drug and device development, such as through information gathering and assessment for the generation of research evidence for further intervention improvements (Jones et al., 2022). Moreover, an MSN is bound to assist patients with restructuring their lives due to cancer, which can increase their perceived quality of care significantly. Empathy is a critical competency in this setting, as NPs have to ensure that people affected by this disease have the motivation to continue their therapy.
Conclusion
In conclusion, MSNs possess the knowledge that allows them to make a substantial positive impact on patient outcomes. In the oncology setting, such personnel can work closely with oncologists to support their treatment and research. This clinical area comes with a broad scope of responsibilities for nurses, as their role in one’s survival is paramount and overarching.
Moreover, MSNs possess the skills necessary to create a safe environment for cancer patients and assist them and their families with living comfortably after the diagnosis. The oncology setting often includes interdisciplinary teams since obstacles in treatment may require assistance from a variety of specialists. However, an MSN has the tools needed to perform such a task and improve the quality of care through their actions and decisions.
References
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