Career Advice

[florn1]

I am an ADN graduate who passed my boards last week (WAHOO!) and I would like to specialize in Oncology. This is a 2nd career for me, so I am eager to get started in my specialty as soon as possible.

There are several options for new grads available, so I am seeking the advice of experienced oncology nurses in helping to make a wise decision.

One hospital has an 8-week nurse internship program in med-surg, but it is a small hospital with no floor dedicated to oncology. They place all of their chemo. patients on one floor, and I can start on that floor and "work my way up" to being an ONCO nurse, according to the recruiter. Another option is a large teaching hospital that has a 1-year internship in med-surg/oncology, with 50% med-surg and 50% onco, according to the recruiter. Yet another option is a very well-respected and state-of-the-art cancer center. They have openings for new nurses, although they prefer experience. There is no formal nurse internship program in this area. I have also considered applying at outpatient oncology facilities. Are they appropriate for new grads, or should I get some hospital experience first?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Ted]

First off, I want to welcome you to "Allnurses.com"!!! I see that this thread is actually your FIRST post!!! Cool! :) I hope you find this bulletin board a friendly, informative, supportive and even entertaining place to visit!

Like you, I was a new grad when I started my oncology experience. I chose to work at a large teaching hospital, on a unit whose main focus was hematology/oncology. It also served as a regular medical floor too. The oncology preceptorship program on this unit (like all preceptorship programs provided on all of this hospital's specialized units!) was generous in time and thorough in content. This program was excellent for me. The program and preceptor(s) supported me as I learned to provide safe, effective and caring oncology nursing care to my patients on this rather high-acuity heme/onc floor. Also,within a few year's time, I took the ONC test and passed!! I felt that this teaching hospital's oncology preceptorship program was instrumental in preparing me for this accomplishment. I would recommend a similiar program if available for you.

There's been similiar topics posted here and at other forums of this bulletin board. Doing a search within this bulletin board might prove helpful to you and possibly give you more immediate results in return.

Good luck to you and please keep us informed to your decision! :)

Ted

[jemb]

Welcome to Allnurses.

I would think that the medical/oncology floor with the internship would be the best of the three options for a new grad. It will give you a chance to learn what you need to know to be a competent oncology nurse.

I would not recommend going anywhere that 'prefers experience' and offers no formal orientation/ internship to new grads! Sounds like you might be thrown to the wolves!

I also would not trust that the small hospital with a med/surg floor that gets all the chemo patients would have enough oncology focus to give you the experience that you need to move into the realm of oncology nursing. The recruiter says you can 'work your way up' to being an onco nurse --how does she propose you do that in a hospital that has no oncology floor?

Experience is necessary to be competent as an RN in outpatient oncology settings. There may be some that would hire a new grad, but unless you could get an internship with a preceptor, I would not recommend it.

[chemoqueen, BSN, RN]

You must also remember that cancer is probably not the patients only medical problem. I started as a new grad on a medical/oncology floor (approx 50-50) and found the experience of learning how to deal with cardiac, renal, diabetes, etc.. aided in my ablility to care for oncology patients. I would vote for some general experience.

Welcome to Allnurses.

I would think that the medical/oncology floor with the internship would be the best of the three options for a new grad. It will give you a chance to learn what you need to know to be a competent oncology nurse.

I would not recommend going anywhere that 'prefers experience' and offers no formal orientation/ internship to new grads! Sounds like you might be thrown to the wolves!

I also would not trust that the small hospital with a med/surg floor that gets all the chemo patients would have enough oncology focus to give you the experience that you need to move into the realm of oncology nursing. The recruiter says you can 'work your way up' to being an onco nurse --how does she propose you do that in a hospital that has no oncology floor?

Experience is necessary to be competent as an RN in outpatient oncology settings. There may be some that would hire a new grad, but unless you could get an internship with a preceptor, I would not recommend it.

[florn1]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I will be going on some interviews this week and will let you know of my decision.

[florn1]

Thanks for your suggestions everyone. I will be going on some interviews this week and will let you know of my decision.

[florn1]

I wanted to let you know I decided to go with the dedicated cancer facility with the longer internship program.

I keep telling myself my case of nerves (terror?!) is normal as a new grad, but do you have any suggestions on what I should be preparing, focusing on, reviewing, etc. to get ready for my new job?

Thanks again for your input.