5 Takeaways From JADPRO Live 2025

JADPRO Live 2025 provides a platform for leaders in oncology advanced practice to share research and best practices with their peers. From case studies in managing difficult adverse effects (AEs) to optimizing advanced practice provider (APP) teams for better patients care, the event featured experts in care across the continuum of oncology.

Here are 5 takeaways from this year’s meeting that an oncology APP should know about.

Managing Complex Therapy-Induced Cytopenias

In a review of 6 case studies, Laura Zitella, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, AOCN, FAPO, a nurse practitioner and associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, walked through complex therapy-related cytopenias and how to assess these cases.¹ Zitella shared that patients should be referred to hematology for single or multi-lineage cytopenias, abnormal differential, immature white blood cells in peripheral blood or immature red blood cells, lymphocytosis, leukoerythroblastosis, or unexplained anemia after thorough workup.

Takeaways included that romiplostim is a potential option for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia on day 1 of a patient’s chemotherapy cycle to minimize treatment delays, that cytopenias following CAR T-cell therapy can occur at the beginning and several weeks into therapy possibly requiring growth factor or stem cell support, that new cytopenias warrant evaluation with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and that patients who have received gastric or duodenal surgery may have impaired vitamin B12 and iron absorption.

Exercise in Cancer Care

Daniel Glidden, MS, PA-C, explained that recent data from the phase 3 CHALLENGE trial (NCT00819208) strengthens the argument for regular exercise as a transformative part of cancer care. In an interview with Oncology Nursing News, Glidden shared practical ways to begin incorporating exercise in care as an oncology APP.²

“The first step is finding out what people are doing. Are they exercising regularly? Are they exercising somewhat or completely sedentary?” said Glidden. “If they’re completely sedentary, I wouldn’t tell them to just go right off and exercise to those guidelines. We would want to start off slow and do a stepwise approach.”

APP-Led Quality Assurance

An advanced practice provider (APP)-led peer review quality assurance (QA) committee was found to be feasible and identified common patient safety event (PSE) types while representing an APP perspective, according to pilot data shared by Shila Pandey, DNP, AGPCNP-BC, ACHPN, in a poster presentation.³

Since its formation, the committee reviews adverse PSEs, near-misses, and grievances related to APP care, following the establishment of an APP QA huddle in 2022. The leadership subcommittee convenes weekly to investigate and triage PSEs and track action items leading up to monthly meetings of the entire multidisciplinary APP QA committee. At the committee’s monthly meetings, select cases are formally presented to the group for review.

“That is part of our organization’s goal to be highly reliable organization, which means you want staff to engage,” said Pandey. “When they are engaging in quality and safety, that means you’re going to get more event reporting.”

Virtual Reality Helps Patient Avoid Mastectomy

A patient with breast cancer was able to avoid an unnecessary mastectomy with a virtual reality simulation, according to research presented by Kelly Preti, DNP, MBA, AGACNP-BC, OCN, PMGT-BC.⁴

After struggling to adhere to CT simulations and MRIs due to claustrophobia-induced panic attacks, a patient with breast cancer faced the possibility of mastectomy if she could not complete radiation. The patient was given 25 mg of quetiapine the night before and 50 mg of quetiapine 1 hour before the simulation and 2 mg of lorazepam 15 minutes before the simulation. This regimen was paired with a 360-degree virtual reality session involving nature imagery and ambient music.

APP Optimization Model Improves Patient Access

A multisite model for advanced practice provider (APP) optimization led to enhanced patient access by improving clinical capacity, financial stability, operational efficiency, and retention, according to a poster presentation by Eileen Vella, MS, PA-C.⁵

The model reduced the time to consult with an APP by 13.7%, equating to a 2-day reduction, which reduced patient “leakage.” The number of patients APPs saw per day increased to more than 12, increasing the average visitors per APP per day by 14% and the volume of visits by 7%. These changes improved patient access and APP utilization in oncology clinics.

“Speaking as an APP, when we feel like we’re contributing in a valuable way to the practice, we feel reinvigorated and inspired, and really want to make that contribution to the practice,” said Vella in an interview with Oncology Nursing News. “We always look at burnout and retention strategies, and this certainly is one of them.”

References

1. Zitella LJ. The lowdown on low counts: navigating complex cases in therapy-related cytopenias. Presented at: JADPRO Live 2025; October 23-26, 2025; National Harbor, Maryland.
2. Glidden D. Evidence-based exercise and diet strategies across the continuum of cancer care. Presented at: JADPRO Live 2025; October 23-26, 2025; National Harbor, Maryland.
3. Pandey S, Linington A, Liu D, et al. Safeguarding excellence: insights from a novel advanced practice provider-led quality assurance committee. Presented at: JAPDRO Live 2025; October 23-26, 2025; National Harbor, Maryland. Abstract JL1340C
4. Preti K, Ferraro L, Donoghue P. A case study: using virtual reality to treat anxiety and claustrophobia during radiation therapy simulation—enhancing emotional well-being and preventing unnecessary interventions. Presented at: JADPRO Live 2025; October 23-26, 2025; National Harbor, MD. Abstract JL1301C
5. Vella E, Hulse C, Peskind E, Zanfardino J, Smith D. Optimizing advanced practice provider utilization in community oncology: a scalable model for enhanced patient access and operational efficiency. Presented at: JADPRO Live 2025; October 23-26, 2025; National Harbor, MD. Abstract JL1336C