The Advanced Practice Nursing Role in a High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic

Purpose/Objectives: To describe the role of an oncology nurse practitioner in a breast cancer prevention clinic.

Data Sources: Published articles, abstracts, and book chapters and personal experience.

Data Synthesis: Validated risk assessment models and genetic screening can be used to assess an individual's risk for breast cancer. Lifestyle changes and medical interventions can reduce that risk.

Conclusions: Interventions for primary prevention of breast cancer soon may become one of the most effective means of reducing the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of breast cancer.

Implications for Nursing: Advanced practice nurses in the oncology setting are ideal healthcare providers to assess patients' risk of breast cancer, determine physical findings that can influence that risk, provide risk education, synthesize existing data, and make recommendations for surveillance, pharmacotherapy, lifestyle changes, and genetic counseling and testing. Limitations in the existing data in cancer prevention provide excellent opportunities for nursing research.