Advanced Oncology Nursing Certification Review and Resource Manual

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Preface

The inspiration for writing the Advanced Oncology Nursing Certification Review and Resource Manual was in response to requests from past Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) advanced oncology certification review course participants for additional study resources. This book has two timely goals. The first goal is to provide a comprehensive review for oncology advanced practice nurses (APNs) who are preparing to sit for the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) advanced oncology certified clinical nurse specialist (AOCNS^®) or advanced oncology certified nurse practitioner (AOCNP^®) examination.

The editors of this book also serve as faculty for the advanced oncology review course at the ONS annual meetings and for the future online review course. This educational experience, feedback from course participants, and the ONCC test bulletins have assisted in developing the content of each chapter. Authors were selected based on expertise in their respective areas, their clinical experience as practitioners, and advanced oncology certification status. This book will provide the foundation for a comprehensive review of advanced oncology nursing content.

Each chapter includes content on an advanced oncology nursing topic, key points to emphasize important concepts for the readers to review, and a case study with questions relevant to the most important topics within the chapter. This approach gives readers an opportunity to affirm their understanding of the content. In addition, practice test questions are offered in Chapter 21. These multiple-choice questions are similar in structure to questions used in the ONCC advanced practice certification exams. The editors believe that these varied methods of instruction address current adult learning principles.

Chapter content is correlated to the weight that ONCC has assigned to the specific topic on the certification exams. Topics are representative of the ONCC blueprints for the advanced oncology certification exams. The number of review questions per topic in Chapter 21 also is reflective of the weight that ONCC has assigned to the topic. These topic percentages may change periodically; therefore, test candidates are advised to refer to the most current test bulletin when preparing for a certification examination.

The most current oncology clinical evidence was used in the preparation of this book. Although it is beyond the scope of any review or resource book to completely cover the entire field of advanced oncology nursing, the editors believe the mastery of the content presented herein will give the readers a broader understanding of advanced oncology nursing. The use of this book does not guarantee successful completion of the advanced oncology nursing examination; however, the readers will be better prepared to identify areas where more in-depth study is required.

The second goal of the Advanced Oncology Nursing Certification Review and Resource Manual is to provide a comprehensive clinical resource for oncology APNs. This book will serve as a valuable resource to oncology APNs, graduate nursing students, medical residents, physician assistants, and oncology nurses in clinical practice. To achieve this goal, advanced oncology APN topics have been expanded beyond the scope of a review course to include the most current literature and clinical evidence available at the time of this writing. Certification examination questions generally are developed over a long period of time and may not always reflect the most current evidence. Each chapter contains useful, important, and timely references recommended by the expert and practicing APN authors. The editors believe these recommendations will assist in making this review book a valued resource for oncology clinicians.

It is the editors' hope that the Advanced Oncology Nursing Certification Review and Resource Manual will be a timely addition to the oncology nursing literature. We would like to acknowledge and thank our expert authors. We are indebted and grateful to the dedicated ONS Publishing Division staff and the faithful mentorship and friendship of Barbara Sigler, RN, MNEd, director of ONS Commercial Publishing.

Barbara Holmes Gobel

Shirley Triest-Robertson

Wendy H. Vogel