Pediatric oncology nurses in MA?

[Hope4Kids]

Hi. Hoping to network with pediatric oncology nurses in the Boston area. I've been a pedi nurse for the past 4 years and have been trying to break into the pediatric oncology field for 5 without much success. I work per diem for a VNA in MA that cares for pediatric oncology patients, and am learning to push a couple different IV chemotherapies, pre/post hydration, accessing ports and drawing labs in prep for chemo, giving immune boosting injections, assessments of kiddos, and tasks along those lines. I love love love working with this population and it has only strengthened my passion to want to work in pediatric oncology. Looking to hear from other nurses and how you did it and what the trick to getting your resume looked at is. Thank you so much.

[smurfynursey]

I am trying to get into peds onc as well :)

Do you have your chemo cert? (sounds like you might). I took it through APHON a few years ago, hoping it helped but nothing yet. I do have ELNEC, so we will see i guess...

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Sounds like you have some good experience and you're likely not doing anything wrong. APHON chemo certification may or may not help. There are only a few places where you could expect to get a peds oncology position in Boston- MGH, Tufts, Dana Farber or Children's. MGH and Dana Farber only have outpatient pedi onc positions because MGH only has 2 pediatric floors and they are separated by age and Dana Farber is all outpatient. I believe Tufts/Floating has an inpatient pedi heme/onc or stem cell transplant floor. There aren't a lot of jobs by the very nature of how specialized the field is. I hardly ever see jobs at the Jimmy Fund Clinic posted and it seems like the outpatient nurses don't tend to leave very often. Children's Hospital is only hiring new grads.

[PediGIRN12]

If you dont mind me asking where do you work doing VNA work with Pedi Onc patients? That is something I would like to get into myself.