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(88) Role of a Retreat: Nurse Practitioner Director Strengthening an Oncology NP Team

Location: Exhibit Hall D
Title: Role of a Retreat: Nurse Practitioner (NP) Director Strengthening an Oncology NP Team

Abstract : Basis of Inquiry: Historically, Nurse Practioners (NP) report to nurse or medical directors, rather than a peer NP. A growing body of research reveals that NPs who report to another NP have increased job satisfaction. In 2024, Dana Farber’s Pediatric Oncology department developed the Pediatric NP director position. This role allows NPs to be represented within the leadership team, to develop a vision for the NP role, and to better understand their peers. A retreat was developed to enhance teamwork and communication, and to present the new directors’ vision.

Purpose: Design a retreat to further develop vision of the NP role, improve ability to give and receive feedback, create task forces for specific projects and enhance working relationships.

Methods: The NP director sent a pre-retreat survey to NPs which used a Likert Scale and open-ended questions addressing teamwork, peer feedback and respondent’s retreat goals. Results were analyzed and themes extrapolated from free-text responses.

Additionally, NPs identified 3 clinic workflow issues, then chose 1 issue to share with their peers. Emerging themes guided the development of issue-focused task forces. Each NP ranked taskforce by interest and were assigned to a preferred choice.

Using these results, the retreat agenda focused on equitable workloads, teamwork, and communication to provide optimal patient care.

NPs completed a post-retreat survey using the same methods as pre-retreat.

Outcomes: The pre and post retreat surveys were completed by 20 of 29 NPs and 23 of 29 NPs, respectively. Survey results showed shifts in a positive direction: positive feelings about respondents' teams increased from 72.5% to 75.5% and ability to give feedback increased from 20% to 26%. Comfort in receiving feedback decreased from 75% to 66%, as respondents expressed more self-awareness during the retreat. One hundred percent of respondents felt the retreat was worthwhile.