Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are important members of multidisciplinary pediatric oncology teams. In addition to being on the front line of pediatric patient care, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners are well versed in current treatment protocols and ongoing research in pediatric oncology. Advanced practice nurses play an integral role in the translation of evidence into practice; however, few studies of this specific subject have been published. In this Issues in Advanced Practice column we examine nurse practitioners in the pediatric oncology inpatient setting and the impact that APNs can have on improving patient outcomes for children with cancer—specifically, the role of APNs in preventing central line– associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) by using evidence-based practice.
Over the past 20 years, tremendous progress has been made in the treatment of children with cancer. In the United States, data-driven treatment protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration across the health care sciences have positively impacted...