Program Structure and Description
The Oncology Internship Program is designed to prepare new graduate and novice RN’s to work in an inpatient oncology setting.  The programs is a structured 14 week program that includes both classroom and clinical experiences,

Classroom content includes the following:

• Oncology Core Curriculum (50 hrs).  Pediatric staff will take pediatric oncology core concepts in a parallel structure. 
• ONS and APON Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider Course (16 hrs).  Pediatric nurses will take the APON course – all others will take the ONS course.
• Stem Cell Transplant (16 hrs) required for all participants in BMT, Hematology, Medical Oncology, Pediatrics and ICU.

 Clinical orientation

• Each orientee will be paired with a clinical coach on their assigned floor.  The clinical coach is responsible to assure that the orientee is exposed to a variety of patient care experiences.  The clinical coach and the orientee will collaboratively work together to complete the required clinical orientation-learning contract.
• In addition to the clinical coach – a professional practice leader is assigned to the clinical area is available to assist and support the orientee during the clinical orientation.

 Program Schedule

• Classroom days:  Each classroom day will be 8 hours in length.  Classes start at 0800 daily.
• Clinical experience – Clinical experiences are 12 hr shifts.  The orientee will follow the clinical coaches schedule including working on weekend days.  During weeks 2 through 8, each orientee will have two 12 hrs clinical orientation shifts.  Beginning on week 9 clinical orientation shifts will be increased to three 12 hr shifts. 
• Clinical orientation will be on the day shift for the first 8 weeks.  Beginning on week 9 – staff hired to work the 7 p.m. shift will begin their rotation to the night shift and will remain on that shift for the remainder of the orientation program.