Sylvester Nurse Practitioner Honored for Advocacy

Jessica MacIntyre, M.S.N., ARNP, director of clinical operations at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) for her advocacy on behalf of Florida’s nurse practitioners.

Nurse practitioners Amanda Chaney, left, and Jessica MacIntyre, right, receive their awards from Jacinto Garrido, Ph.D., DNP, South Florida’s state representative to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

MacIntyre, who is co-director of Florida’s only oncology fellowship program developed for nurse practitioners, received the 2018 AANP State Award for Nurse Practitioner Advocacy at the association’s annual conference June 26-July 1 in Denver. Amanda Chaney, DNP, FAANP, a nurse practitioner associated with Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, received the 2018 State Award for Excellence.

“Jessica MacIntyre is a powerful advocate for nurse practitioners, who play an essential role in delivering skilled, compassionate care to cancer patients,” said Sylvester Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D. “We are proud to see her recognized with this important award from the AANP.”

Reflecting on her work, MacIntyre said, “It is vital to build awareness of the increasingly important role that nurse practitioners play in delivering effective care to patients in Florida and throughout the country.”

MacIntyre also played a leading role in relaunching the Nurse Practitioner Council of Miami-Dade last year. “One of the key goals for our council is to advocate for legislative support that would allow our professionals to practice within the full scope of our licenses,” said MacIntyre, a hematology-oncology nurse practitioner with Sylvester and UHealth – the University of Miami Health System.

MacIntyre is committed to increasing the specialized skills of nurse practitioners and opening up new career paths through a year-long fellowship program at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The 52-week program, which began in 2017, allows nurse practitioners to rotate through various areas of oncology and hematology and other ancillary specialties.

“As nurse practitioners, we can contribute to our institutions in many ways, not only in patient care,” MacIntyre said. “Before completing the program, our fellows are required to complete a quality improvement or research project, giving back to our institution. They are also required to apply for certification in oncology, supporting their career development goals.

“Our hope is that this program transcends to other areas in the U.S. in order to support and mentor new nurse practitioners entering the field.”

The AANP represents the interests of more than 234,000 NPs practicing in the U.S. today, providing a unified networking platform and advocating for their role as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered and personalized health care.

The organization provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NP patients and other health care consumers.

Tags: American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Jessica MacIntyre, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center