[jenhasredhair]

I've worked on a medical-oncology floor for 2 years. I'm chemo certified by ONS (I don't get pain any extra for this). I was thinking about getting my OCN certification, because I want to start traveling soon. For those of you who already have it, do you benefit in any way by having the national certification? Or is this just something you do to make yourself feel good about another accomplishment? For those of you who are certified, I hope I'm not putting you down in any way (I think it's great to be better educated in your field). I just don't want to put myself through the stress of taking the test if it's not going to benefit my career. Thanks in advance for your input!

[me5115]

I work in a out pt cancer center. I 've been there for 1 1/2 years. Im working on getting my ONC in the next year. I think it would be hard to take the test out of the med surg setting. I know to get chemo infusion certifided, you have to work for 6 months in that area.
It is nice to say that your oncology nurses are ONC certified. As far as experiece though passing a test might not say much. We have a nurse that came from the Hillman cancer center in Pittsburg Pa, and she's never been certified. She said they never required it. She work there for around 10 years.
I guess if Oncology is where you want to be, it would be worth it. But if you plan on working in other areas of nursing too, I probably wouln't bother.
Once your certified, you have to have so many hours in education to keep it or take the test again. The good thing though Ive been told that the exam is alot of general nursing questions.
I hope this helps....ME