Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program
Overview

Master of Science in Nursing – Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner Program

The Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner (AONP) Program has a unique and dynamic curriculum that integrates the knowledge base and role components of the Nurse Practitioner (NP). This program has a rich history at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and maintains a national and international reputation as the premier oncology graduate-nursing program. Over the years, the AONP program has prepared numerous oncology nursing leaders.

Students enrolled in the program are prepared to comprehensively manage the physical and psychosocial care needs of individuals with cancer and their families across the illness trajectory. Program highlights include:

• Management of common co-morbid illnesses in the adult oncology patient
• Health promotion strategies
• Cancer risk assessment
• Cancer screening and detection
• Diagnosis and management of frequently occurring cancer diagnoses
• Cancer therapies
• Assessment and management of physical symptoms associated with cancer and its therapies
• Psychosocial oncology
• Cultural competency training
• End of life care
• Surviviorship issues
• Ethical decision making
• Research critique, synthesis and utilization in evidence-based nursing practice
• AONP associated outcomes
• Promotion of effective change within organizations
• Educational strategies
• And much, much more!

Strong theory preparation guides the students’ experiences in a variety of clinical placements. Clinical placements are initially focused within primary care settings where students further develop sophisticated physical assessment and history taking competencies, critical thinking skills, health promotion methods and management strategies for common acute and chronic illnesses. Subsequently, students’ clinical placements are in diverse oncology settings to further develop and refine critical AONP skills. Lectures and clinical preceptors include nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and physicians all of whom are recognized experts in their field.

Graduates of the Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner program are eligible to become Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners (CRNP) through the state of Pennsylvania. They are also eligible for certification as Primary Care Adult Nurse Practitioners (Certified Specialist, CS) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and as Advanced Oncology Clinical Nurses (AOCN) by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC).

Post-Master's Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program
The Post-Master’s Adult Oncology Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program is available for individuals who already have a Master of Science in Nursing degree. These applicants have the option of submitting portfolios that will be reviewed for possible credit for prior educational and professional experiences.

Adult Oncology Minor
This minor focuses on identifying modes of treatment for cancer and on the management of physiologic and psychological changes experienced by oncology patients and families. Utilization of state-of-the-art knowledge and research in clinical practice is emphasized. The Adult Oncology Minor offers core content on principles of assessment, diagnosis, and management, on understanding etiologic mechanisms, and on the development of advanced clinical decision making skills to comprehensively manage issues resulting from a cancer diagnosis and its treatment.

Courses
N561 Human Genetics
N666 Effects of Cancer and Cancer Therapy
N667 Oncology Nursing: Assessment, Diagnosis & Cancer Management

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