Why You Should Be an Oncology Nurse

An oncology nurse? Really? Before you say, “I could never do that, it’s too sad,” let’s consider some of the reasons why you should be an oncology nurse.

What does an oncology nurse do? Everything—and more!

If you went to nursing school to be able to provide direct and compassionate care to patients, this may be a perfect fit for you. Because of the ongoing relationship with patients, an oncology nurse is able to provide support throughout the cancer journey.

Although the setting and specific job title will dictate the actual responsibilities, here are the general core functions of an oncology nurse:

• Direct Care: There is no current national mandate for nurses to be certified to administer chemotherapy (antineoplastic drugs). Each institution has written policies regarding documentation, safety, handling, disposal, and administration. Aside from chemotherapy, oncology nurses assist patients and families with:
  1. Side effects
  2. Pain management
  3. Self-care for symptoms
  4. Emotional support
  5. Communication with the team

• Patient Assessment: As nurses get to know each patient, they are able to make careful assessments of the patient’s condition over time. They’re able to detect small changes in the physical and mental states; combined with data trends, the nurse can anticipate possible complications and keep the medical team updated.
• Patient Education: More than standard hospital discharge teaching, oncology nurses are required to be familiar with each patient’s history, diagnosis, and treatment plan, in order to reinforce the need for compliance. Patients with cancer can easily be overwhelmed with information. Nurses use structured and informal opportunities to educate patients, families, and caregivers on every aspect of cancer, from side effects to support groups. Education is constantly updated, from diagnosis through cure or palliative care.
• Case Coordination: Cancer treatment is complicated: there can be multiple settings, physicians, surgeons, and ancillary team members (dieticians, physical therapists, respiratory care, home health, social workers, etc.). Nurses are the “hub” for patients who can easily become confused, anxious, or frustrated. They’re facilitators for communication and unity of the patient’s team.
• Advocacy: Patients are always vulnerable. Those with cancer are physically weakened, as well as scared, anxious, and overwhelmed by uncertainty. Nurses are ethically responsible for advocating for patients’ needs and preferences. Appointments with busy providers are often inadequate for addressing concerns. Nurses help ensure that patients, families, and caregivers are understood and represented in care decisions.

The pros of being an oncology nurse

• Patient’s first source of communication. Many patients and their families travel to receive treatment, so they should have a consistent source of contact for questions and concerns.
• Satisfaction with making a positive difference in someone’s life as they face difficult challenges and decisions. The effects of empathy and emotional support cannot be overestimated.
• Fostering important relationships that aren’t available in other nursing disciplines. Oncology nurses have the chance to truly understand how fragile and beautiful life is.
• Developing an attention to detail: observing and assessing patients; administering complicated drugs; specific documentation.
• Job security and opportunities to advance the nurse’s career. The need for oncology nurses continues to grow. New knowledge and developments make the field exciting and allow nurses to direct their own career path.

The cons of oncology nursing

• Being present and supportive for the hardest times patients must face: at the beginning after learning their diagnosis and at the end, if death is the outcome.
• Similarly, emotional and mental stress. Occupational stress can occur with all professionals who deal with terminally ill patients. Oncology nurses must learn to take care of themselves, both personally and professionally, to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue.
• Patient load and staffing issues. This is true for many nurses, but oncology nurses wind up with direct care for more patients, limiting their ability to spend time doing what they love.
• Ethical dilemmas can impact the nurse’s ability to provide equal care to all patients. Issues such as insurance denying treatment or only paying for a certain medication can be heartbreaking. Patient and family decisions regarding care or end-of-life treatment can challenge the nurse’s beliefs.
• There is potential danger of exposure to toxic chemotherapy drugs from touching contaminated surfaces or inhaling vapors. Following policies regarding PPE is essential. Guidelines may include wearing double gloves, eye protection, and respirator masks.

Pick your setting—plenty of options

While over 40% of oncology nurses work in a hospital—both inpatient and outpatient--cancer care is available in a wide variety of settings:

• Clinics and infusion centers
• Cancer centers
• Physician practices
• Home health
• Palliative and hospice care
• Research and academic institutions

Many non-hospital positions are eager to hire oncology nurses after the nurses acquire experience (minimum of two years’ full-time) and certification as an Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN), Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON), or Certified Breast Care Nurse (CBCN), or Bone & Marrow Transplant Certified Nurse (BMTCN).

Aside from an inpatient hospital unit, many cancer care settings offer benefits such as regular hours with weekends and holidays off. Salaries are competitive and often higher than other areas of nursing. Job growth is expected to increase 7% every year through 2029. To learn more about being an oncology nurse, visit the Oncology Nursing Society website.

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