Ashley Downing

Background

About Ashley Downing

Hi, my name is Ashley Downing, and I am completing a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at the University of Kansas School of Nursing with a specialization in Family Practice. I am in my fifth year with an expected graduation date of May 2025. I am interested in a career as a nurse practitioner in a medical/hematology oncology clinic. I started my career as a nurse working in bone marrow transplant/hematology oncology. For the last four years, I have spent time as a clinic nurse specializing in medical/hematology oncology and have also worked as an infusion nurse on occasion where I got my chemotherapy certification to hang treatments for patients. My day-to-day practice as a clinic nurse has allowed me to see a multitude of patients with different types of cancer, learn about NCCN guidelines and treatment planning, practice careful evaluation of patients, and learn how to complete prior authorizations. I am currently a member of the Oncology Nursing Society and stay up to date on evidence-based practice through this. I chose to obtain an advanced degree so I will be able to make a bigger impact on oncology patients. Through a DNP education I am learning to use evidence-based practice to safely and properly diagnose and care for patients. The DNP program has taught me a lot about research, and I hope to do my own research someday to find new treatments for cancer patients. I want to impact oncology patients’ lives by being there for them from the day of diagnosis, to coming up with a treatment plan to beat cancer, or in the cases where a cure is not possible, I will at least try to give them the best possible quality of life.