The oncology clinical nurse specialist in a post-master's nurse practitioner program: a personal and professional journey.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine the evolution of the advanced practice role in oncology nursing and the authors' educational experiences and role transitions as they progressed through a post-master's nurse practitioner (NP) certificate program. DATA SOURCES: Professional literature and personal experiences of two experienced oncology clinical nurse specialists (CNSs). DATA SYNTHESIS: Despite historical differences between CNS and NP roles, the authors did not subtract or detract from their CNS roles but added new skills to their established roles. CONCLUSIONS: Skills that define both the NP and CNS roles must be maintained to effectively meet the current healthcare needs of patients with cancer. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Many CNSs are returning to school to obtain their NP credentials. Although assimilating new skills and knowledge into an already established professional identity was a challenging undertaking, the authors viewed the experience as essential in preparing them to meet the demands of the changing healthcare environment.