The role of the advanced practice nurse in the care of patients critically ill with cancer

Although the proliferation of potent standard and experimental protocols to combat cancer has resulted in life-threatening complications, growth and changes in the field of oncology and critical care have increased the life expectancy of patients with cancer. Several authors have describe the multifaceted role of the advanced practice nurse in critical care and oncology settings. How the critical care oncology advanced practice nurse translate these roles into practice is not known. In this article, the author describes the challenges of the critical care oncology advanced practice nurse to improve patient care, improve outcomes, and advance the nursing profession.