JTWidget = {code: 'MTQiullov0bF7CZWcayqMi0ztb0Czdq6'}; Springer Publishing Company Most certifications last for four years before they must be renewed with a recertification test or continuing education credits. Take care of yourself with good compression socks and comfortable nursing shoes. Many nurses find a career in oncology to be especially rewarding. Seven reasons why oncology nurses should get certified. You’ll do a far better job of helping patients if you’re comfortable. Oncology nurses are involved in many aspects of cancer diagnoses and treatment, including prevention and early detection, and symptom management. You should be ready to identify the strategies you utilize to make sure workers are … Register now to learn about a new option for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. Perspective about what’s important. After getting an RN license, a prospective oncology nurse will need to meet specific eligibility criteria and pass an exam. Alene Nitzky, a certified oncology nurse and author of Navigating the C: A Nurse Charts The Course for Cancer Survivorship Care, emphasizes that the work can be very demanding. Karen was instrumental in the development of the first preceptorship program at RHLCCC to develop high-level oncology nurses. The nursing shortage will be severe, ultimately increasing the number of burnout syndrome among nurses. Compassion fatigue or emotional burnout is a real challenge for many health care professionals. This is ideal for nurses who may enjoy getting out to work in the community. American Nurse today website. They may work with a variety of patients, from children to the elderly, from outpatients through to palliative care. Knowing when to listen to patients and their families versus offering consolation or advice is a key challenge for oncology nurses. Diving into the world of oncology nursing also means that you’ll have to be comfortable with end-of-life issues, including grief and loss. love the patients and their families. Just remember that you can’t do your best work if you’re emotionally and physically exhausted. Becoming an oncology nurse requires extra schooling after nursing school, like any specialty. Subscribe to The Weekly Boost - the weekly email newsletter for DailyNurse. The same goes for your mental health. In addition, being certified as an oncology nurse will position you as an expert in the field, increase credibility, gain professional recognition, increase hourly rates, and open more career opportunities. Karen Harris is a clinical nurse educator at Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center (RHLCCC), Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. As an oncology nurse, your days may include monitoring a patient’s physical condition, handling medication, and administering chemotherapy and other treatments. You can rotate into oncology units in many hospitals without extra certifications, but the knowledge gained with continuing education is worth its weight in gold to help patients further. Nurses will have to take an active role in their own lives to minimize burnout. Every day that you work with a cancer patient is another opportunity to make their lives better, which makes the job worthwhile. All nurses should be compassionate, precise, and resilient. It is difficult to lose patients after you’ve gotten to know them and bonded with them and their families, but the most challenging thing about the work is that you don’t have enough time to do all the things you know would make much more of a difference because you have too many administrative demands on you coming from your employer. Karen also chairs RHLCCC’s Best Practice committee, ensuring evidence-based practice across the cancer center. That said, oncology is a particularly challenging subset of nursing due to the nature of the disease. New York, NY 10036, © 2020 Springer Publishing Company | Privacy Policy, Deborah Swanson is a Coordinator for the Real Caregivers Program at. In addition to providing care for patients, they also educate and provide support for patients’ families and loved ones. used to work hem/onc/bmt. Good oncology nurses will notice even small changes in their patients’ charts and are the first line of defense if something is amiss. The exact parameters vary state by state, but advanced certifications generally require a master’s degree or higher in nursing as well as hundreds of hours of supervised clinical practice. Nitzky adds, “Nursing students should seek opportunities to talk with oncology nurses who have left traditional health care and work in the community or public health settings, because they will give you a much more well-rounded look at the value you bring to your patients and clients.”. However, I want you to take a second and reflect on what you think of when you hear the term "oncology nursing." I bet it's not super positive, which is totally understandable. This will give you a better idea of the field you’re pursuing. My job reminds me every day how important it is to be grateful for the little things—being able to walk, go to work, spend time with my family, breathe, etc. ASCO website. It’s always smart to reach out to a variety of experienced individuals in your chosen field. A keen ability to navigate emotionally-charged groups is a must. Get more news like this - plus jobs - each week. Taking a few minutes to protect yourself from exposure to hazardous drugs is better than your health being compromised. If you’re thinking of pursuing a specialization in oncology nursing, you’ll want to explore the various types of positions available. Collaboration among nurses is paramount, and when they come together the best outcome is patient satisfaction. Since oncology nurses often work with very sick patients, they need to take extra care to not take work home. Why oncology is an intimate field. Navigating the C: A Nurse Charts The Course for Cancer Survivorship Care, Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation, 8 Tips for Surviving the Holidays if You Have a Demanding Job, Mantras and Affirmations for Nurses Amid COVID-19, The New Nurse Guide: 11 Ways to Adjust to a New Practice, Good at discerning when to listen and support, Comfortable with end-of-life issues, grief, and loss. An interviewer may ask about the way you supervise a team. Even when a patient’s cancer is quite advanced or a prognosis is poor, oncology nurses love making a difference in quality of life. Stepping back and focusing on rest and rejuvenation will help you return to the job with even more sensitivity, empathy, and emotional resilience. Alene Nitzky, a certified oncology nurse and author of Navigating the C: A Nurse Charts The Course for Cancer Survivorship Care, emphasizes that the work can be very demanding.

why do you want to be an oncology nurse

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