advice when taking ON cert

SookeyRN · Jun 20, 2005

Hi Joyce!

I don't have any real answers for you, except to say that I plan on taking the OCN certification this fall, also. I took an oncology specialty elective my last semester of my undergraduate program at Iowa, and have been working on a 14-bed inpatient BMT unit for the last year since getting licensed. I work with several RNs who have taken the OCN Certification exam, some of them have worked in oncology for more than 20 years. They have advised me to take the OCN review course offered through the local ONS chapter, saying they found it extremely helpful (only because BMT is so highly specialized and the OCN exam covers all types of cancers and oncology nursing). That said, if you don't have that much exposure to oncology, I wondered if you might not meet the qualifications to take the OCN certification exam, which includes at least one year of oncology experience or 1000 practice hours in the 30 months prior to applying to sit for the exam, and 1.0 oncology-specific CEUs or 10 contact hours. The actual qualifications are listed here at http://www.oncc.org/getcertified/TestInformation/ocn/eligibility.shtml

Good luck!

Paula

i will be taking my ONC come fall...i just want some feedback/advice from those who have passed their ON certication. I dont have that much exposure to oncology nursing but then im going to try to take the exams and hopefully pass. want to know questions that were asked...if experience counts alot when taking the exams even if they say its reference based test...i want some advice re the test
thank you
joycep

wiegel34 · Jun 20, 2005

I took and passed the ONC certification in 2002, its hard, the only advice I

can give is to study,study and then study more. I passed it on the 1st attempt, but there were some there who were trying for the 2nd, 3rd, and one that was attempting for the 5th time. I worked full time in an out patient

Oncology unit for over a year and probably put almorst that much time studying on my own time. Try not to read too much into the questions,but as in the nursing boards there are usually 2 answers that don't fit and two that look right. read the question again and go with your first instinct. If you have studied emough your 1st instinct is probably right. Don't change any answers unless another question later in the test gives you a clue that that answer is

wrong. Good luck

plum94 · Jun 21, 2005

thanks for the advice...well i just hope that i too will pass on my first try...im just confident to take the exams just because its reference base and not practice base as compared to med-surg board cert...i really do appreciate the advice...and you are definetely right...go with your first instinct...

I took and passed the ONC certification in 2002, its hard, the only advice I
can give is to study,study and then study more. I passed it on the 1st attempt, but there were some there who were trying for the 2nd, 3rd, and one that was attempting for the 5th time. I worked full time in an out patient
Oncology unit for over a year and probably put almorst that much time studying on my own time. Try not to read too much into the questions,but as in the nursing boards there are usually 2 answers that don't fit and two that look right. read the question again and go with your first instinct. If you have studied emough your 1st instinct is probably right. Don't change any answers unless another question later in the test gives you a clue that that answer is
wrong. Good luck

plum94 · Jun 21, 2005

deat paula,

thanks for the davice...i do met the requirements...and i will be filling for my application next week...i just bought the 3rd edition of the Core Curriculum book...the bluprints for the oct test is base there...i have been trying to get the study guide aswell but i couldnt get in in amazons...anyway, i bought the 4th edition study guide anyway...

i also took my review classes in Cancer Institute of New Jersey and it was indeed helpful...im planning to another review class next month...good luck with the test!!!

Hi Joyce!
I don't have any real answers for you, except to say that I plan on taking the OCN certification this fall, also. I took an oncology specialty elective my last semester of my undergraduate program at Iowa, and have been working on a 14-bed inpatient BMT unit for the last year since getting licensed. I work with several RNs who have taken the OCN Certification exam, some of them have worked in oncology for more than 20 years. They have advised me to take the OCN review course offered through the local ONS chapter, saying they found it extremely helpful (only because BMT is so highly specialized and the OCN exam covers all types of cancers and oncology nursing). That said, if you don't have that much exposure to oncology, I wondered if you might not meet the qualifications to take the OCN certification exam, which includes at least one year of oncology experience or 1000 practice hours in the 30 months prior to applying to sit for the exam, and 1.0 oncology-specific CEUs or 10 contact hours. The actual qualifications are listed here at http://www.oncc.org/getcertified/TestInformation/ocn/eligibility.shtml
Good luck!
Paula