Hershey, Pennsylvania
Durham, North Carolina
Posted: 17-Aug-25
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Categories:
Internal Number: 258847
At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.
Purpose: To provide consultative support and education for Duke Cancer Network affiliated programs in order to maintain clinically relevant oncology nursing standards, facilitate
Clinical practice and education of nursing and allied health staff; and facilitate opportunities for scholarly inquiry for nursing and other clinical staff.
Scope of Responsibility: The Associate Director (AD) of Clinical Practice provides consultative support focused on quality oncology patient care including the development of standards and metrics to measure and monitor performance, education for new services, and remediation of practice opportunities. Additionally, the Associate Director is responsible for coordination of evidence-based clinical practice and education initiatives that extend regionally into affiliate communities.
This role is responsible for the effective and efficient clinical operations provided in Duke affiliated medical oncology programs as well as establishing systems to improve and enhance patient care. Additionally, this position is responsible for the enhancement of practice through education at the affiliated programs.
This is achieved through:
- The development of care delivery systems and programs to ensure the provision of a DUHS standard of quality care at affiliated sites
- The development of clinical oncology services at affiliated sites
- Evaluation of educational needs and practice competencies at affiliated sites
- Effective relationship building, and collaboration with all parties involved in the administration of Duke-affiliated medical and radiation oncology programs
- Collaboration with DCN administrative, medical, and clinical nursing leadership
- Administer DCN activities in compliance with contract terms for each affiliated program
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The following description of job responsibilities and standards reflects the major duties of the job but does not describe minor duties or other responsibilities that are assigned from time to time.
Clinical Quality
- Plans for the delivery of quality care at Duke-affiliated medical oncology programs
- Works with the healthcare team to develop and implement clinical plans for the affiliated programs to provide quality patient care within regulatory guidelines
- Leads efforts to develop and maintain policies and procedures and mechanisms for implementation; collaborating with appropriate resources as indicated such as DCN Advanced Practice Providers, DCN Providers, DUHS Pharmacy, Lab, and other appropriate resources for both the DCN and all affiliate sites
- Leads efforts to develop PI/QI initiatives within DCN and across sites - oversees, conducts and or implement such initiatives
- Utilizes nationally available standards and evidenced based practice to develop programs and initiatives which improve patient care and program functions
- Collaborates with DCN nursing and program leadership in development of patient triage/flow systems
- Identification of problems or variances in the clinical affiliate's contracted agreement and works to acquire resources to solve problems or correct inconsistencies.
- Identifies areas for improvement and leads teams/initiatives to implement solutions
- Prepares written plans and reports for each affiliated site as well as the Duke Cancer Network
- Oversees clinical practice and clinical programs
- Responsible for the development and maintenance of standardized patient treatment plans and chemotherapy templates, including chemotherapy orders, plans of care and patient teaching standards at all affiliated programs that are in accordance with National Standards of evidenced based medicine
- Participates in affiliate efforts to implement electronic medical records relating to safe patient care and assessment, electronic documentation and monitoring of appropriate clinical practice standards
- Collaborates on efforts to develop tools and training materials used by clinical staff to optimize patient care data capture, revenue capture, quality indicators and outcomes
Work Culture
D. Affiliate Site staff oversight and education functions (inclusive of DCN staff)
- Assists in the development of position descriptions for oncology clinical staff at DCN affiliate sites.
- Assists in orientation activities for affiliate clinical staff
- Oversees the ongoing competency validation of all clinical staff hired in the affiliated sites; inclusive of ensuring chemotherapy competencies in concurrence with National Standards
- Provides access to developmental/educational/training opportunities to clinical and mid-level staff including mentoring clinic personnel through skills and competency assessment and development
- Facilitates nursing staff educational needs as identified by nursing leadership
- Oversees and collaborates with the DCN Director of Clinical Practice and Education in development and preparation of educational programs
- Works with the affiliated site nurses to develop patient teaching processes, programs and tools
- Lives out Duke core values and mission and integrates department culture behaviors and norms in daily work
Finance
E. Strategic development and reporting support
- Participates in efforts to optimize revenue capture, compliant documentation and coding at affiliated sites
- Provides input into Duke Cancer Network strategic planning initiatives related to medical oncology. Input includes, but is not be limited to, availability of Duke Resources to support affiliated programs, organizational design, identification of potential sites, potential program assessments, etc.
Customer Service
- Program Leadership
- Collaborates with all parties involved in the functioning of Duke-affiliated oncology programs, including, but not limited to: Duke Cancer Network personnel, Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Hospital personnel, Duke Cancer Institute staff, PDC, affiliated hospital personnel, and local medical staffs at affiliate sites.
- Assists affiliated programs in support of American College of Surgery - Commission on Cancer (COC) and National Accredited Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) accreditation or reaccreditation.
- Responsible for providing guidance and leadership to affiliate programs such that programs and processes meet COC and NAPBC standards.
Job Qualifications:
A successful candidate would be an individual who can respond appropriately in highly public environments, both on and remote to the Duke campus in high-pressure situations. A person with experience at Duke Health or another academic-based health care delivery system with a Master degree and knowledge of oncology clinical practice standards is preferred. The position interacts with nursing and administrative leadership in affiliated hospitals in support of Duke-affiliated cancer programs and represents the interests of the Duke Cancer Network on committees, teams and other public forums. The Associate Director functions within the policies and procedures of the Duke University Health System, Duke Cancer Institute and local affiliated cancer programs.
Education:
- BSN Required
- Masters in Nursing, desired and very strongly preferred
Experience:
Work requires four years related health care experience specifically in out/inpatient hospital or group oncology practice setting.
- Minimum of 4 years of experience as a registered nurse or 2 years ANP in oncology care very strongly preferred.
- Minimum of 2-3 years of Chemotherapy Administration experience preferred.
Degrees, Licensure, and /or Certification:
- Certification/license to practice as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina required. Certification as a Clinical Nurses Specialist CCNS or AOCN / AOCNS/ AOCNP certification strongly preferred.
- Oncology Nurse Certification preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and abilities:
- Ability to create and teach educational content
- Teaching and mentoring abilities
- Effective verbal and written communication skills
- Excellent problem solving skills
- Facilitation skills
- Experience in nursing research and research processes and functions preferred
- Computer proficiency
- Engage as a high performing team member and leader
Physical and Medical Requirements
- Exposure to hazardous waste and infectious materials
- Physical abilities to complete job duties under prescribed environmental and working conditions
- Ability to travel to affiliated sites (mainly within 4 hour drive, flights on small planes and some regional, national and international travel will be required)
- Ability to flex hours to meet work demands
Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.