Chemo Nursing

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Hi there. I am a new nurse..graduated this spring and started working in July on a cardiac med/surg floor. While I enjoy my floor, I have found that this type of nursing is not for me. It is my dream job to work in an outpatient chemo clinic. I have to wait at least 6 months before I can transfer out somewhere else. Does anyone know what steps I should take to end up in a clinic? I did 8 weeks of clinicals in an infusion center and absolutely LOVED it. Should I go work on an oncology floor? Or could I go straight to a clinic and get chemo certified there? Thanks for any input!:)

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Specializes in PCU, cardiology, oncology.

I know your question is from months ago, but anyway... Working on an oncology floor is probably your best bet. Join ONS and go to meetings and network, network, network. I work in an outpt chemo unit and about 75% of the RNs came up thru oncology floors. The other 25% have a ton of other nursing experience. A new nurse with no oncolology experience probably won't get hired for outpatient chemo. Oncology is like a foreign language compared to other specialties. good luck to ya.

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Thanks for your response! I did join the ONS and just got a job on a surgical oncology floor in February and found out we do give some chemo on the floor so I will get certified through work then after a few years of working here I will hopefully have an easier time getting into outpt infusion. Thanks again!!

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