Cardiac RN to Onc NP?

[Justinenix]

I have always wanted to specialize in oncology and have aspirations to be a oncology specialized NP. I've fallen into a cardiac track in my career thus far, with 1.5 years on a tele floor and now 1 year in cardiac/thoracic surgery step down. I know cardiac knowledge is valuable but I'm eager to get into onc, especially because an onc NP needs onc RN experience.

My question is- should I try to move to an oncology inpatient floor? Or is it possible to go to an outpatient cancer clinic and gain enough experience from infusion nursing to move toward NP?

Also, any input on working with oncology NPs inpatient or outpatient would be appreciated! I have an idea of what midlevels do in a surgical setting but I'd love to hear about oncology NPs scope and practice.

[Buckeye.nurse]

I believe almost all of the NPs at my facility were RNs in oncology before finishing school. At least a few of them worked in the outpatient clinic though, so I think either outpatient or inpatient RN jobs are viable for the experience you seek.

I work at a large teaching hospital on a hematology floor. Inpatient side, 3 of our 4 heme services utilize NPs (although there is often also a fellow). The other heme service is traditional teaching with interns, residents, fellows, and the attending. During the week the NPs work 7am-7pm shifts. They manage medical care on their patients (the attending makes most decisions on whether or not to administer chemo), and do procedures such as LPs, bone marrow biopsies, placing short term CVC's, and giving chemo via an ommaya reservoir. We absolutely love our NPs!

Outpatient side, Nps see patients on routine clinic visits in partnership with the hematologist. Many of my patients have developed close relationships with their outpatient NPs, and those NPs will come up to visit their patients when they are inpatient at times, especially when goals of care come up, or treatment decisions may be changing in a major way.

There are definitely many career options for you at large cancer hospitals--from working on a hematology or oncology team to specializing as a NP on a service such as infectious disease or palliative medicine. Best of luck to you in your career!

[Justinenix]

Thank you so much for your response! This was very helpful and makes me more excited to specialize!

[RikkiLynn]

I really think it would be best to start in an inpatient floor, you will be exposed to the more acute side of oncology. Generally patients who visit the clinic are much more stable then the inpatients. A nurse on my floor wants to move towards the same path as you but she turned down a clinic job to get the experience of inpatient.