Chief Nurse Practitioner

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) Chief Nurse Practitioner has clinical oversight of the practice of all Nurse Practitioners (NP) credentialed at DFCI. The Chief NP provides NP staff and NP leader supervision and promotes the professional growth and development for all NPs. They support interdepartmental and multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure optimal patient and family-focused care, and in collaboration with their physician and administrative colleagues are accountable for the quality, safety, and outcomes of all programs and services. As a member of the Nursing Executive Committee (NEC) and Nursing and Patient Care Services Executive team at DFCI, the chief NP will work with other oncology nurse executives to develop, implement, and evaluate the NPCS strategic plan. They work closely with the Compliance Office, the Office of Medical Affairs and Professional Credentialing (OMAPC) to ensure that state regulations, scope of practice and clinical practice standards for NP credentialing, onboarding, and practice policies are followed.  

The Chief NP establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with the Chief PA and all PAs, nursing disciplines and medical colleagues and other departments necessary to foster optimal patient outcomes and adherence to national standards of practice in a professional practice environment. The Chief NP works closely and in collaboration with the senior PA leader to ensure the same standards of practice, educational opportunities, mentoring, precepting and fellowship training programs for all APPS. Further, the Chief NP will work with and be accountable to the inpatient and outpatient triad leadership teams in adult and pediatric oncology to support and implement their agendas and priorities for clinical operations and care model alignment across the DFCI enterprise.

This position is 70% Leadership 30% Clinical/patient facing

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

The individual will possess the following skills:

• Inter-professional and intra-professional leadership skills to set goals that advance teamwork, interdisciplinary learning, just culture and the environment of care.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills as they relates to systems, inclusive behaviors, collaboration, clinical judgment, clinical inquiry, facilitation of learning and advocacy for patients and staff.
• Incorporate the mission, vision, and core values of DFCI in their leadership and will work closely with the executive team to prioritize the annual strategic plan for nursing and NPs within all areas of practice.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for establishing, maintaining, and evaluating the standards of NP/APP practice as well as implementing and communicating practice changes in collaboration with the Physician Assistant and medical staff leadership.
• Maintains conditions of work for NPs in alignment with the DFCI triad leadership of inpatient/outpatient, Institute policies and the collective bargaining agreement with the Massachusetts Nurses Association.
• Periodically assesses NP needs in maintaining clinical oncology APP skills as well as issues related to clinical practice, job satisfaction, engagement, and professional development.
• Supports and builds an NP leadership team and continues to challenge and generate professional growth as well as identifies and mentors NPs in the leadership pipeline.
• Works closely with OMAPC, Nurse Executive Committee, Medical Staff Executive Committee (MSEC) and Medical Staff Appointment Committee (MSAC) regarding credentialing and recredentialing and compliance with all aspects of the MA Nurse Practitioner Practice Act. The Chief NP oversees NP credentialing and identifies credentialing issues (such as category II) and presents the information to the Credentialing Committee and creates a comprehensive plan when indicated.
• Oversees bi-annual NP OPPE evaluations and work closely with NP Directors to implements FPPE (when indicated) and oversees that Annual Reviews are completed for every DFCI NP
• The Chief NP will have fiscal responsibility and awareness of the following:
• Accountable to seek necessary information, including active engagement of staff, to establish trends necessary to determine appropriate personnel and supply.
• Manages, validates, and signs off on NP payroll and supports Disease Centers in finding appropriate APP coverage when needed.
• Collaborates with the CNO and NEC and other disciplines as indicated about the management, volume, and acuity of patients that the NPs care for.
• Develops staffing plans with the Administrative Directors in each Disease Center to meet patient care needs and in accordance with standards for clinic / admin time across the adult and pediatric services.
• Collaborates with nurse leaders and other departments to assure adequate supplies, operational, capital resources are available to provide safe patient care.

• Work together with nursing executive team, NPCS leadership and interdisciplinary triad leaders to implement changes in organizational workflows and clinical
• Collaborate with the administrative directors, as well as nursing/physician leadership to support standard clinical operations and NP schedules throughout all practice areas at DFCI.
• Participates in nursing executive initiatives to create annual strategic plans and routinely assesses and evaluate the plan to meet the agreed upon goals and objectives.
• Establish and maintain the standards of nurse practitioner practice.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with the NP staff, nursing and medical disciplines as well as interprofessional teams necessary to foster optimal patient outcomes and a professional practice environment.
• Identify and lead quality improvement projects at the DFCI and the ambulatory practice setting and works with DFCI leadership and NP staff to create meaningful quality improvement ideas and initiatives.
• Communicate legislative updates and work with medical and nursing leadership to implement the necessary changes.
• Identify educational needs of NPs and work with APP leadership colleagues to provide APP educational opportunities to meet these needs.
• Oversees the coordination of the NP Clinical Program and evaluates student experiences at the close of each semester.
• Assesses competency, skills and experience of NP candidates seeking employment and creates an onboarding experience that is conducive to job satisfaction and retention.
• Assessing the skill, knowledge, and competencies of newly hired NPs by reviewing the 30-60-90-day evaluation and NP competency tool and meets regularly with newly hired NPs and preceptors.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Demonstrates clinical competency as an NP and continue to practice as an NP in a clinical setting (75% administrative time and 25% clinical practice time)
• Possesses analytical abilities necessary to organize, to supervise and to evaluate the work of others; to develop and administer policies, procedures, clinical performance metrics.
• Demonstrates clinical competence as an NP and contributes to the optimum function of the disease center.
• Strategically focused, able to effectively manage multiple competing demands and proactively negotiate priorities.
• Possesses strong interpersonal skills to provide effective leadership for staff and to interact with patients, visitors, physicians, and other clinical disciplines in a variety of hospital settings.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current Nurse Practitioner Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and national NP certification (ANCC, AANP).
• Doctoral degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years previous leadership experience with demonstrated leadership competencies.
• Over 5 years of oncology clinical experience required.
• Minimum of 5 years NP clinical practice experience is required.
• Current board certification in specialty area or administration is highly recommended.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Supervises NP Directors and is accountable for the clinical practice of all NPs practicing at DFCI.
• Collaborates with Chief PA leadership to ensure similar practice standards, professional development opportunities, policies and procedures as they relate to APP practice

SUPERVISORS:  

• Reports to the DFCI Senior Vice President for Nursing and Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer and is accountable to the Medical Staff Executive Committee for the credentialing and recredentialing of all NPs.

DISCLAIMER:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.  Requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

PATIENT CONTACT: Yes

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

Works in clinic and office settings with possible exposure to infectious diseases through airborne transmission or contact with blood or body fluids.

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong.  As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff.  Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

EEOC Poster

The Chief Nurse Practitioner of Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute provides clinical oversight and leadership for all Nurse Practitioners, ensuring optimal patient care and adherence to standards. Responsibilities include mentoring NPs, collaborating across departments, and overseeing credentialing processes while contributing to the strategic planning of nursing practices. This role balances administrative duties with clinical practice, emphasizing professional development, quality improvement, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Nurse Practitioner, Oncology, Clinical Leadership, Patient Care, Healthcare Administration, Professional Development, Credentialing, Quality Improvement, Cancer Care, Interdisciplinary Collaboration