Help Transferring into Nursing for Pediatric Oncology

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Hello!

I just finished my second year of college, previously going for a BA in chemistry, but have recently decided to go into nursing. I am wondering what the best path is to become a nurse practitioner specializing in pediatric oncology. My current school does not have a nursing program, so I am looking to transfer, but I do not know what program would be the most beneficial in my circumstances. I have not completed all of the pre-nursing requirements, only psychology, intro level biology and chemistry (and organic chemistry if that makes a difference).

How should I go about becoming a pediatric nurse specializing in pediatric oncology? What are the benefits and disadvantages of going into an RN program and then later doing an RN to MSN program? Would there be more benefit in transferring into a BSN program and then later doing the MSN program?

Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated, Thank you!

Julianne

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Most NP programs require a MSN + acute experience and the MSNs require BSNs + acute experience. In my area at least :) Here, I don't think there are RN to MSN programs, just RN to BSN. That's all I've got, hope someone else can help. Maybe look around in a specialty thread?

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First of all, becoming a nurse practitioner will require a DNP, starting in 2015. Before you get a DNP, you'll need to start with your BSN. So for now, don't worry about being an NP until you get your BSN. Do some research, and find a good BSN program, and push yourself to do well. Then get a job in pediatric oncology. You can get different certifications that will help you increase your scope of practice. If that's still something you want to do, enroll in a BSN-to-DNP program (there are a bunch online). By the time you decide to go back to school for your DNP, there will be a lot more options for you.

I'm not aware of any DNP programs specifically for peds oncology, but you could always choose a general practice and specialize as time goes on. Perhaps by the time you're ready to get your DNP, there will be peds oncology programs.

Be patient and flexible. Between waiting lists, school years, and working med-surg until an oncology spot opens up, it might be 10 years until you're working as a peds oncology NP. It's good to set your goals high, but keep the path to them realistic.

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Specializes in ED, Medicine, Case Management.
First of all, becoming a nurse practitioner will require a DNP, starting in 2015.

As far as I know, this is still only a recommendation by the AACN and has yet to become a requirement...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I don't want to drag you down into a morass of 'nursey-ness' , but just wanted to clarify why "nursing specialties" are not the same as those for physicians. Our clinical focus is on dealing with human responses to illness/disease... not the disease pathology itself. Therefore, our specialties are categorized by patient population, not clinical diagnoses. Current NP specialties include those focused on Geriatrics, Families, Pediatrics, Women's Health, etc.

Best of luck to you! As PP said, everything could change by the time you are ready to launch into your NP practice.

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Specializes in ICU.

I am also wanting to go into Pediatric Oncology but I want to do bedside. First, it will not be a requirement that you have your DNP in 2015. It is just a suggestion. Here is the path I am going right now. We have a top pediatric hospital in the big city where I live and my goal is to get there someday. They require BSN RNs so here is what I am doing. I am going to get my ADN first. I live in a small town where they still hire ADNs. My school has a partnership with one of the local hospitals. I am going for the summer externships and hope to get hired there. I will work up here and get my BSN online. My school also partners with Indiana State University so I can just transition there once I graduate. Indiana State has an excellent online ADN-BSN program. And I will spend a couple of years getting experience there. Then once I have my BSN + a couple of years experience, I will be a better looking candidate to get the job I want in pediatric oncology. It is true that many MSN programs require at least a year of critical care bedside experience. I have looked into it as I may possibly get my MSN someday. You cannot specialize in pediatric oncology specifically as a NP. But you can focus on pediatrics from what I have seen. You can specialize in Family care, pediatrics, geriatrics, and psych. I think those are the only specialties as a NP.

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