A Hybrid Oncology Certification Review Course:A Hybrid Oncology Certification Review Course:An Intervention for Increasing Certified Nurses

Sunghee Lee, MS, RN, OCN; Mary-Jean Austria, MS, RN, OCNHuntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah Health

BACKGROUNDHuntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) is a 100 bed NCI designated hospital that provides over 167,000 outpatient clinic visits annually. In early 2016, only 22% of nurses were oncology certified despite the available financial support for exam reimbursement and a review program conducted in a study group format. To address this gap HCI applied for and was accepted into the ONCC Free Take Program. An institution-wide Clinical Ladder program was implemented, and based on pre-intervention surveys the review program was reformatted into a hybrid design.

PURPOSEThe purpose of this intervention is to increase the number of oncology certified nurses by providing support and resources in preparation for the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) exam.

INTERVENTION• A hybrid design - a combination of in-class sessions and online self-study

components.• The course was offered without charge to employees.• Offered three hours per week for 6 weeks, bi-annually. • Content was developed by a Masters prepared educator with extensive

oncology experience and was instructed by oncology certified nurse educators.

• Class materials were available on an online platform and included additional resources for topics not addressed in the in-class sessions.

EVALUATION

Most nurses who participated in the course evaluation in 2017 agreed that the course was helpful in preparing for the OCN exam and was applicable to the nature of their work.

DISCUSSIONStructured classes provided by oncology certified educators combined with an online asynchronous component may better support nurses in obtaining their OCN versus a traditional study group. This intervention will ultimately improve patient outcomes and the quality of nursing care for oncology patients.

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OCN at Huntsman Cancer Institute

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OUTCOMEThe Human Resource Department and the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation provided data on total number of nurses and OCN exam status, respectively. After one year, there was a significant increase of oncology certified nurses from 22% to 32%.

“They [educators] were giving the most important, pertinent information that I needed to be a competent oncology nurse and pass the OCN test.

It helped me so much, I strongly feel it will help many others.”Rachael Young, BSN, RN, OCN

“Without the class the thought of taking the exam was way to overwhelming.I feel better equipped to take care of the patient and have a better understanding of what they go through and why they go through it!”

Shauna Francom, RN, OCN