Radiation Oncology

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 25, 2019

Moved to Oncology forum, however it may belong elsewhere! ?

Were these openings for an RN position in Radiation Oncology? Was this a unit in or affiliated with a hospital? out-patient or in-patient or a combination? Would you be able to provide more information on the job description? Thanks!

Swellz · Apr 26, 2019

One is at a hospital, so presumably in and outpatient, and one is in a freestanding oncology clinic (part of a large group of outpatient clinics), so strictly outpatient. They are RN positions, but the job descriptions are vague; ie "assist physician in the care and teaching of patients" and "independently cares for a group of patients consistently using the nursing process and clinical standards and protocols". Not very helpful.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 26, 2019

When I worked in a hospital Radiology department as one of several RNs, our only involvement with the Rad. Onc. section was to assist with lady partsl exams as part of treatment for various cancers. Teaching was done by the Radiologist and possibly the Oncology Radiologic Technologist.

Perhaps question the manager or HR for more details? Or apply for the job and find out during the interview?

Good luck!

MidwestMaude, RN · May 28, 2019

Hello, I'm an outpatient radiation nurse in a hospital. We do all education (initial and final instructions), see each patient currently on treatment with the MD for their weekly "OTV - on treatment visit", see any patient on treatment who request to speak with us, administer premeds as needed, assess vitals and skin reactions, provide wound care as needed, see each patient that comes in for follow-up, administer oral and IV contrast for simulation (planning CTs). There is also coordination you provide with chemotherapy, PT, home care, social work, etc. It's a great job if you want to connect with the patients because they come in daily for treatment and lean on you a lot and then are followed up long term after treatment. It's a great area of oncology to work in.

DowntheRiver · Sep 8, 2019

We have 35+ Radiation Oncologists, and each RO has their own nurse and usually an APP or two. We are a teaching hospital, so we also have Residents. Each RO also has their own specialty, such as prostate, GI, Breast, etc. Clinic is typically only Monday through Friday with no weekends or holidays. Nurse responsibilities include phone triage, medication refills, assisting providers with procedures, and education. Most nurses have 2-3 clinic days and then 2-3 office days. Clinic days are spent seeing OTVs (On Treatment Visits), consults, and follow-ups. OTVs are quick 15 minute visits, more like mutual check-ins with patients who are on active treatment. Most places require patients to be seen once every 5 treatments. You go over side effects with patients and review options to relieve symptoms (gel pads for Breast, Aquaphor, 100% Aloe, etc.), make sure they have their meds, assessments, and patient education. In Radiation, there is A LOT of patient education. Patients need to have CT or MRI Simulations, fiducial markers (usually prostate, but sometimes liver and lung cancers use them), fecal tests, etc. prior to even starting Radiation. Each specialty has their own set of needs and teaching, so if you have to learn each specialty it can be a steep learning curve. If you just have to learn Prostate or Breast, for example, it will be much easier. Some specialties, such as head and neck, work really close with medical oncologists as the patient is usually getting chemo and radiation at the same time.

To me, Radiation is a lot of hand holding and patient education. I don't mean the hand holding in a negative manner - Radiation can be really tough and the patients go through a lot. Most clinic calls are about side effects and medication questions/refills. Office days are typically spent prepping for consults and follow-ups.