Radiation oncology nursing question

chemoqueen, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2004

Most large hospitals have a rad onc tx center assoc w/ them.

Hello- I have a question about the availability of rad. onc. nursing positions. I've been looking around, and haven't found many hospitals looking for nurses to work in this area. Those of you working in oncology and radiation onc., are only a small number of nurses usually employed in rad. onc. dept.s? Is experience on an oncology floor usually required to work in rad. onc.? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

siestababe · Jan 21, 2008

Hello- I have a question about the availability of rad. onc. nursing positions. I've been looking around, and haven't found many hospitals looking for nurses to work in this area. Those of you working in oncology and radiation onc., are only a small number of nurses usually employed in rad. onc. dept.s? Is experience on an oncology floor usually required to work in rad. onc.? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

I worked on the inpatient oncology floor for many years before moving to the outpatient setting in Rad Onc. I have been there for 14 years, first alone, and now we employ three part-timers.

I feel that I really have quite a bit of autonomy, and b/c it is outpatient, the MD isn't present every day. Great assessment skills are a must. Phone triage is a daily duty. I do not do the chemo component as much as I used to, radiosensitizers mainly, but I do procedural sedation for our brachytherapy patients, etc.

If anyone knows of skin care preparations for moist desquamation, please post! This is one big area that no one really has a gold standard for. Thanks!!!

RADIATION_RN · Dec 12, 2008

Siestababe,

I am not sure if you will read this since it is so late, but I work in an outpatient radiation clinic in Austin, Tx. I got a certification in radiation therapy assisting about 5 years ago and have worked side by side with the radiation therapists and the radiation RN ever since. For the last 2 years though I have worked exclusively with the RN because we now have sufficient therapy staff.

Our doctor is the only radiation oncologist for a private oncology group that employs 18 medical oncologists, so he is a busy man. We always recommend Domeboro soaks to our patients who suffer from moist desquamation. Some get immediate relief and love it!

jeffreyfrog · May 4, 2009

I work at a hospital with about 2,000 beds and until very recently, there was no RN at all on staff in the radiation oncology unit. There are 3 physicians there doing treatments, if that tells you anything. Mountain View Radiation Oncologists.