Oncology nursing is a specialized branch of nursing that involves caring for cancer patients of all ages. It includes direct patient care, research, education, and management roles. Becoming a qualified cancer nurse requires completing a degree program, gaining professional experience, and obtaining certification.
Oncology nursing is the branch of this profession dedicated to the care of cancer patients. Healthcare professionals who choose to specialize in this area may be working with patients of all ages. Pediatric oncology nursing is an additional specialization in this field.
This field of nursing was first recognized in the early 1970’s. Previously, the main treatment option for patients diagnosed with cancer was for the doctor to perform surgery to remove the tumors. Nurses would provide patient care before and after the procedure.
As the survival rates of cancer patients have started to improve due to improved research, the role of the oncologist has become more important. Patients and their doctors developed a treatment plan together, and the registered nurse was part of the treatment team. This change in the way cancer was treated led to an ever-increasing role for nurses, and now cancer nursing is one of the many areas they can choose to work in.
Oncology nursing may involve the nurse caring directly for patients. Some nurses in this field work in higher positions where they are involved in running a healthcare facility that works with cancer patients. There are other job opportunities for oncology nurses in the field of education. They may be asked to share their knowledge about cancer and the treatment of this disease with other employees, family members or the public.
The field of oncology nursing also includes research. The oncology nurse may be asked to identify issues or problems that may be the focus of research. Once the results of a survey are published, the oncology nurse can incorporate the results into policies for treating patients with cancer.
There are several steps involved in becoming a qualified cancer nurse. The first is completing a degree program and requirements to become a registered nurse. To obtain certification as an oncology specialist, the nurse would take continuing education courses and gain professional experience working with cancer patients.
Nursing professionals can also work in the field of oncology nursing. These health care professionals completed the requirements for a master’s degree in nursing. Part of the requirements for becoming certified as a professional oncology nurse is completing several hundred hours of clinical work under the supervision of experienced staff.
Some jurisdictions require people who want to work in the field of oncology nursing to be certified. Others suggest that cancer nurses be certified, but they don’t need to. The professional organization in your jurisdiction can provide information about the requirements for your area.
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