oncology vs ortho/neuro

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Hi, I am a new nurse.. I applied to both the oncology unit as well as the ortho/neuro unit. I had a friend call the nurse recruiter to try to pull my resume & was told that my resume was found & passed to the proper people. My friend said I would be getting a phone call from the recruiter.. I doubt I'd have my choice of where to work if I am even offered an interview.. but in the event that I am asked I want to make an educated decision. My old nursing instructor told me that if I work in oncology or telemetry for a few years, anyone would want me because of the experience you gain and because of all the equipment you are exposed to. Can anyone tell me your opinion or offer any insight on either oncology nursing or ortho/neuro?

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Honestly, take a job where you can get it. Onc and neuro/ortho are both specialties. Along with basic nursing skills, you'll pick up extras along the way in both areas. I started in oncology and have been benefiting from it personally ever since.

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I have been working in the oncology setting for 2 years and I love it. Oncology experience is very valuable and the nurses must be chemotherapy certified, which your employer will probably pay for. I guess it also depends on where you see yourself as a nurse in the future. You will use your nursing skills in either specialty. My oncology experience just landed me a position at the veterans hospital which has been a long time goal of mine.

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I work in women's oncology and absolutely love it! You form more bonds with these kinds of patients than you would on an ortho floor.

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Thanks for posting everyone! It's refreshing :) I would definitely take whatever was offered to me, but I was leaning towards oncology if I have a choice. I appreciate it! Nikki congrats on the VA position !

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Specializes in Oncology, Ortho/trauma,.

I loved oncology and I am working ortho now. Personally I love oncology pt. and the disease and treatment process is fascinating. I am in ortho now because I love my boss and team work. Ortho is more surgical in nature. I probably used more nursing tasks in oncology (don't access too many ports or put down NGs in ortho) but in ortho the pt's are way more predictable and the level of emotional stress is way less. so there are pro and cons in each. I was also more certified in oncology (PICC, ACLS, CHEMO) but that may be because of the hospital I was at not because of the specialty

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