K: I’ve been an oncology nurse since I graduated college. For the advanced AOCNP and AOCNS certifications, a nurse must have a master's degree or higher in nursing and a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical practice of oncology nursing. As an oncology nurse, you will work with a multi-disciplinary team in a variety of settings – including clinics, hospital wards, transplant units, and community healthcare centres. There are a variety of specialties such as radiation, surgery, pediatric, or gynecologic. Within Oncology Physician offices, Oncology Nurses mainly function as patient educators. Once passed, your certification is valid for four years. This often leads to innovations tailored to each patient, and sometimes leads to entirely new methodologies that are scaled across cancer care facilities. Read on to learn about the everyday life of this new oncology nurse and why she loves her chosen specialty. If you'd like to learn more about nurse-led innovation, here's where you can get started. Statistics of the Moroccan Ministry of Health indicate that the death toll of malignant neoplasms mounts to 17 thousands a year. To become certified, nurses must have an RN license, meet specific eligibility criteria for nursing experience and specialty practice, and must pass a multiple-choice test. An oncology nurse is a specialized nurse who works closely with oncologists to care for patients of all ages who have been diagnosed with cancer. An oncology nurse is a registered nurse who cares for and supports patients who have cancer. [9], Nurses must be able to manage the many side effects associated with cancer and the treatment. An oncology nurse is a registered health professional who provides many valuable services to cancer patients and their families. An oncology nurse is a registered nurse who cares for and educates patients who have cancer. This site is published by Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., which is solely responsible for its contents. The Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) offers several different options for board certification in oncological nursing. They coordinate the care of patients so that the patients receive the best care possible. [5] Yet, the number of qualified oncology nurses in the country is equal to nil. As with most nursing specialties, you’re required to earn your license as a registered nurse before pursuing any further education or certification. The area of oncology nursing is extremely diverse so many choose to focus on a particular area. In Morocco, there exists no system for certification of oncology nurses. My dad was a physician and my mom was an oncology APN and PhD. You’ll know how they react to treatments, you’ll know what emotional barriers they might be struggling with, and you’ll be their voice if they can’t communicate for themselves. An Oncology Nurse works with patients who have, or who are at risk of getting, cancer. As a care provider who regularly interacts with patients on both a clinical and personal level, you’ll be relied on to advocate for your patients’ needs to both their families and broader healthcare team. He or she might be responsible for cancer screening, assisting doctors in treatment sessions, discussing care options with patients, counseling friends and family members, or providing educational information to the public. Oncology-focused outpatient care centers typically provide minimally invasive treatments such as chemotherapy and infusions. This site uses cookies as described in our, Featured Episode: "Frontiers in Public Health Nursing", Featured Episode: "Black Midwives & Mamas Matter", Most Recent Episode: "Roots of Resilience ", Featured Article: “New Nurses Innovate QuickFire Challenge on Mental Health", From Childhood Cancer Patient to Oncology Nurse, Join Johnson & Johnson and DoSomething.org to Give A Spit About Cancer. [2] Certification is a voluntary process and ensures that a nurse has proper qualifications and knowledge of a specialty area and has kept up-to-date in his or her education. An oncology nurse is one that cares for those cancer patients either undergoing treatment, trying to find viable treatment options or those that have beaten cancer and are on their way back to a normal life. We sat down with LeighAnna to learn more about her unique calling toward oncology nursing and her first few years in the field.