Oncology Nursing

OCNshel · May 9, 2007

I started out with Med/Surg for a couple of years before becoming an oncology nurse. It was very helpful with basic experience before getting involved with the more complicated issues associated with Onc. nursing.

KariCNA · Jun 10, 2007

I just have a quick question... I'm not yet a nurse, but I am starting LPN school in August. I'm just curious as to whether or not LPN's are able to work in oncology? I would love to work in that area of nursing, but I may just have to wait till I go for my BSN I guess :) Anyways, if anyone has any idea, I would greatly appreciate it

OCNshel · Jun 10, 2007

We currently have 4 LPN's working on our unit, and only a few of the RN's have there BSNs.

firstyearstudent · Jun 10, 2007

I am starting right out of the gate in oncology. The hospital I'm going to hires new grads all the time. It's an oncology hospital.

KariCNA · Jun 10, 2007

ah that's awesome to hear shel. thank you for the response. What state are you in? I guess I didn't think to mention that I am in Pennsylvania. It probably varies by state huh? Don't know if that makes a difference or not. And also, what do the LPN's do?

IffaRN · Jun 23, 2007

I got hired into an outpatient oncology setting two months ago and loving it. We have three LPN's working in the infusion center.

In Washington State, only RN's are allowed to give chemotherapy treatment. The LPN's give non-chemo treatments and do injections/mediport draws/PICC drsg changes.

Good Luck.

mosjes · Jun 28, 2007

hi,

i started out as a nurse tech on an oncology unit in a teaching hospital. i loved it and was hired when i graduated. it can be wicked hard sometimes, what with getting to know your patients and watching them suffer or conquer. it's good though if you have the heart for it, because the patients need someone to give them everything and they are insanely grateful for it. another thing i would reccomend is finding out when your oncology unit would send you to your chemo certification classes. i would reccomend that you work on the unit full time for at least 6-9 months prior to administering chemo secondary to the fact that you need to get a grasp of side effect management and the basics. hope this helps.

jes

angeliquevk · Jul 6, 2007

Hello

Can anyone help me? What is the needed education in the USA to nurse oncology patients? Is an online course from ons.org oke? I'm a foreign trained nurse and have got my oncology specialization and used to work with (surgical) oncology patients.