Needing Opinions

[NoblePath]

My husband is looking for a new job and I'll have to go wherever he finds a job. I have no idea where we'll go. Everywhere he has found jobs to apply for I have found oncology positions open. I currently work in oncology with just over 1 year of experience on nights/evenings, I'd be willing to work any shift but prefer nights. So here's the question.. the markets I'll be applying into aren't as open as where I live. Do you think I should try to get my OCN while we're waiting for him to find a new job? Also I took chemo class and passed the exam but never finished my certification. I've read that a lot of hospitals do their own certification like mine did. Would I be wasting my time finishing this? We aren't allowed to give chemo at night. We did twice on evenings and all hell broke loose. Thanks for your opinions :)

[DavidFR, BSN, MSN, RN]

We aren't allowed to give chemo at night.

I find this rather shocking.

Some chemotherapies are given in bi-fractioned doses, twelve hours apart (Bisulvex and in some protcols Aracytine), hence one dose will undoubtedly fall on the night shift. How do you get around this?

[NoblePath]

We rarely do chemo and when we do it's usually palliative. Every once in awhile someone will get it overnight but usually those are the chemos that run continuously for an allotted time. We just rarely initiate a chemo regimen at night. I decided to go ahead and finish that certification. I'm still debating the rest because depending on where we live I may not get an oncology job.

[globalRN]

OCN certification will make u more attractive to employers

[OCNRN63, RN]

My husband is looking for a new job and I'll have to go wherever he finds a job. I have no idea where we'll go. Everywhere he has found jobs to apply for I have found oncology positions open. I currently work in oncology with just over 1 year of experience on nights/evenings, I'd be willing to work any shift but prefer nights. So here's the question.. the markets I'll be applying into aren't as open as where I live. Do you think I should try to get my OCN while we're waiting for him to find a new job? Also I took chemo class and passed the exam but never finished my certification. I've read that a lot of hospitals do their own certification like mine did. Would I be wasting my time finishing this? We aren't allowed to give chemo at night. We did twice on evenings and all hell broke loose. Thanks for your opinions :)

You should really go through the ONS chemotherapy/biotherapy class and get your chemo provider card before you even attempt the OCN exam. You need a strong background with chemo to pass the OCN exam.

[anc33]

While having a strong chemo background helps with the OCN testing there is much more to the test material. I myself am not a chemo provider and have never worked directly in that setting. I had no difficultly passing the exam. That being said, if you wish to continue in oncology go ahead and take the exam. It will definitely give you a leg up on the competition.