Oncology Nursing

Nurses in this field provide care and support for cancer patients who are either chronically or critically ill and to their family members. Oncology nurses are responsible for administering chemotherapy and for monitoring their patients’ physical conditions and medical needs. Patients range from pediatric to adult, include a wide range of diagnostic categories and all phases of treatment from evaluation to long-term follow-up of cancer survivors. Many times, oncology nurses will work within a multidisciplinary team that consults with a group of professionals offering different specialties.

Duties of an Oncology Nurse

Patients who have a cancer diagnosis also have highly complex clinical, psychosocial and educational needs. Oncology nurses are there to meet those needs through clinical care, patient/family education, nursing and multidisciplinary research and interdisciplinary collaboration. This field is growing through ongoing research, so the oncology nurse often will work with sophisticated equipment.

Between the emotional aspects of this job and technical and educational expansions, it is no wonder that nurses in this field can experience a plethora of support through journals, support teams, organizations and more. Oncology nurses can find education and support through various groups that also focus on various cancer illnesses and age groups. For instance, the pediatric oncology nurse can find professional leadership through the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses.

It is good to remember that not every patient becomes a sad story. Thanks to the tremendous medical advances that have been made in the war against cancer in recent years, today’s oncology nurses have hope on their side. Additionally, in cancer treatment, new drugs are under development all the time. Nurses who work in oncology get to administer the newest treatments available and see for themselves the rewarding results when a person’s condition dramatically improves.

Related Types of Nurses

Oncology nurses may go on to work as case managers who manage a team of oncology nurses. Or, they may become clinical educators, providing staff training and making sure newly hired nurses are following treatment protocols. The specialty also needs research nurses who can investigate factors affecting cancer outcomes and conduct clinical trials so that new treatments for childhood cancers can be developed. And there are opportunities to move up into administrative and managerial positions, such as clinical managers.

Related types of nurses are those who deal with terminally or chronically ill patients, such as those who suffer from alcoholism, diabetes or Alzheimer’s disease. This might include the substance abuse nurse, a nurse who works with patients in their homes, and even forensic nursing. Other possibilities include otorhinolaryngology nursing (head and neck) or hospice/palliative nursing.

Oncology Nursing Degrees

Requirements for oncology nurses often include a current MD registered nursing license and two to five years nursing experience, preferably in the oncology nursing field. Other cancer centers may work with individuals who obtain a bachelor’s degree (BSN) and certification. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) has several different certification options, including the OCN, CPON, AOCN, AOCNP or AOCNS credential. The certifications vary depending on a student’s level of training and education.

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Top 10 Online Nursing Schools

RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN - Nurse Administration More...	Kaplan University — Bachelor's, and Master's Nursing Degrees. Kaplan's School of Nursing offers specializations for nurse administrators and nurse educators.
LPN to RN LPN to BSN RN to BSN Click for more...	The College Network — Various Degrees from Accredited Universities. Earn your LPN/LVN to RN, LPN to BSN, RN to BSN, RN to MSN and MSN degrees via the College Network and its NLNAC/CCNE accredited university partners with No Campus Attendance, No Wait List, and locally precepted clinicals. Learn at your place and your pace in half the time and cost of traditional programs.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing Nursing Healthcare Certificate More...	University of Phoenix — BSN, MSN, and Certificate. The University of Phoenix is the nation's largest online university and currently offers several nursing programs at three different degree levels, based on previous nursing education and experience.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN BSN to MSN More...	Walden University — M.S. in Nursing (RN Track), M.S in Nursing (BSN Track). Walden offers a wide variety of nursing degrees and certificates that are all accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
BS in Nursing MSN - Nursing Education MSN - Nursing Management	Herzing University — BS in Nursing, MSN - Nursing Education, and MSN - Nursing Management. The BS in Nursing provides license holding nurses with a diploma the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills on various topics in the nursing field, while the MSN degrees offer further opportunities for specialization.
BS in Nursing MSN - Acute Care	Liberty University — RN to BSN Degree and MSN Degree. The Department of Nursing at Liberty prepares students for baccalaureate level nursing, putting strong emphasis on Christian ethical standards and viewing nursing as a ministry of caring.
MSN - Adult Nursing MSN - CNS/Educator MSN - Nurse Administrator More...	University of Cincinnati — Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN). The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing prepares its nursing students for working with 21st century healthcare technologies to improve patient quality and administer healthcare procedures.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing	Chamberlain College of Nursing — MSN and BSN. Because of the Web-based education that Chamberlain provides, students are able to earn their nursing degree at their own pace. From Chamberlain, students can choose from either a bachelor's degree level or master's degree level, depending on previous experience.
LPN to BSN RN to BSN	Indiana State University — LPN to BSN and RN to BSN. Indiana State offers concentrations in the areas of family nurse practitioner, nursing administration, and nursing education.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Educator PhD - Nurse Educator More...	Capella University — BSN, MSN, and PhD in Nursing Education. Capella prides itself on being an accredited online college. With its nurse education programs, Capella offers two levels, master's and PhD. Either is optimal for the working nurse who wants to enter a role as educator in the field.
RN to BSN MSN - Nurse Education MSN - Nurse Leadership More...	Grand Canyon University — BS in Nursing (BSN) and MBA/MS in Nursing. Grand Canyon University offers a unique MBA/MS in nursing degree program that teaches students about the business aspect of healthcare, specifically nursing healthcare. Current nurses who want more business experience will find this may be an ideal fit.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing MSN - Nurse Education More...	South University — RN to BSN and MS in Nursing. The nursing programs at South University prepares its student for professions in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and school health clinics.
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