There are plenty of specialties you can choose from in the nursing field, and oncology is one area that’s consistently in high demand for nursing practitioners. As an oncology nurse, you’ll provide emotional support for patients and their families, medical care, and life-affirming care to those experiencing a health condition that can be difficult to navigate and cope with.
Read on to learn more about what an oncology nurse does and how you can become one.
What Does an Oncology Nurse Do?
An oncology nurse is a registered nurse (RN) who takes care of people with cancer and individuals with the potential to develop cancer. They work closely with physicians and other medical professionals to treat, diagnose, prevent, and manage cancer symptoms. They’re also responsible for providing palliative care.
Oncology nurses are specially trained to provide emotional support and companionship to people who have cancer. They also educate patients and their families on the type of cancer they have and how they can manage the symptoms in a healthy way while undergoing treatment.
Some common specializations in the field of oncology nursing include:
- Pediatric oncology
- Breast oncology
- Surgical oncology
- Gynecological oncology
- Radiation oncology
- Genetic counseling
- Hematology
- Immunotherapy
- Chemotherapy and infusions
- Bone marrow transplantation
In addition to providing medical, emotional, and palliative care, as an oncology nurse, you may also be responsible for the following:
- Monitoring patients’ conditions
- Running different tests and analyzing those tests
- Administering medications, chemotherapy, and infusions
- Assessing the emotional and mental needs of each patient
- Helping to create care plans for patients
- Advocating for patients
- Recording patients’ health history, vital signs, and progress in clinical documents
- Caring for patients after surgery
- Coordinating with patients’ other healthcare providers
Lastly, it’s essential to prepare yourself emotionally and professionally to handle the various outcomes that can arise regarding the success of cancer treatments.
How to Become an Oncology Nurse
Nursing practitioners, in general, must go through the proper schooling and obtain certain licensing and certifications. Once you receive your RN license, you’ll be able to start on your path to specializing in oncology. This path may include the following steps.
Earn a Nursing Degree
First, you’ll need to obtain either your Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The ADN will take about two years, while a BSN will take four years. Typically, the BSN is strongly preferred for this area of nursing among hospitals, clinics, and private clients.
Pass Your NCLEX Exam
The NCLEX is the National Council Licensure Examination, and you’ll need to pass it in order to obtain your RN license. The exam is taken via computer and covers essentially everything you’ve learned as a nursing student. It also takes up to six hours to complete.
Once you pass and get your RN license, you’ll be considered an entry-level candidate. From there, you can choose from several healthcare settings and specializations, ranging from pediatric oncology to surgical oncology.
Gain Oncology Experience and Hone Your Skills
Once you’ve officially become an RN, you’ll need to get a good amount of clinical experience to become an oncology nurse. It’s typically recommended that you get two to three years’ worth of experience before you enter into a subfield of nursing.
Once you start working as an RN, communicate with your superiors that you’re looking for opportunities to work with patients who have cancer. It’s also a good idea to explore the different oncology specialties to see which you prefer working in.
During this time, you’ll want to practice and hone your skills. Communication, empathy, and collaboration are critical components of working with oncology patients and their families.
Consider Furthering Your Certifications
Cancer care is very complex. While general nurse practitioners often decide to obtain various certifications, such as advanced cardiac life support and basic life support, oncology nurses are often required to obtain several others.
There’s a variety of certifications you can obtain because there’s a long list of oncology nursing specialties. However, the most common certification is the OCN (Oncology Certified Nurse).
Nursing can be an extremely rewarding profession, and oncology nursing is no exception. It also takes a considerable amount of work to become an oncology nurse. As long as you follow the steps above, you’ll be well on your way to working in a fulfilling career of caring for others.