A Guide to Becoming an Oncology Nurse Practitioner

Oncology nurses care for cancer patients as they receive treatment. This specialty can be intense and demands a lot of compassion and resilience.

How to Become an Oncology Nurse in 5 Steps

Use these steps as a guide to pursue a career in oncology nursing, a specialty that involves working with patients and their families and as a member of a healthcare team.

What Do Oncology Nurses Do?

Oncology nurses provide care to cancer patients through chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other treatments. Their patients may be newly diagnosed, transitioning from cancer patient to cancer survivor, or have a terminal illness. Oncology nurses often serve as the point person and liaison between patients and other medical staff. 

An oncology nurse’s patients may be newly diagnosed, transitioning from cancer patient to cancer survivor, or have a terminal illness.

Responsibilities of an Oncology Nurse

An oncology nurse has many roles. They are caregivers, educators, navigators, healthcare coordinators, and more. Their main responsibilities include:

Where You’ll Work

Oncology nurses work in a variety of settings. Your day-to-day tasks may vary based on both where you work and your specialty. Here are some common work settings and the role of oncology nurses who works there:

Education to Become an Oncology Nurse

You’ll need to earn either an ADN or a BSN to become a registered nurse (RN) and pursue oncology as a specialty. Earning a BSN may lead to more leadership opportunities within a healthcare organization.

Associate Degree in Nursing

“An associate degree prepares nurses for entry-level positions following successful completion of the NCLEX examination and application approval for state nursing licensure,” says Weimer.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Weimer says a bachelor’s degree “provides a more robust curriculum that includes additional training in critical thinking, research appraisal, and professional practice leadership.”

“Many hospital systems encourage and prefer BSN-prepared nurses for specialty care units, such as oncology,” she says. “Roles that include additional responsibility and independence, such as nurse navigators, clinical coordinators, team leaders, and supervisory positions, will likely require a BSN as well as specialized clinical certification like the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification.”

Online Oncology Nursing Programs

There are many online nursing programs available for students who need a flexible schedule, like those with full-time jobs or family responsibilities. Students can do coursework online, but they’ll need to do all clinical and hands-on training in person.

There are also accelerated online programs in nursing for those who have already earned an ADN or a bachelor’s degree in another field. These programs can save you time and money because they let you apply some of your previous learning toward a BSN.

What to Look for in a School

Certain nursing programs may be a better fit than others. When you’re researching programs, look for the following:

Licensure

State nursing boards license nurses in their states. To be licensed as an RN, you’ll first need to pass the NCLEX-RN.

The test is pass/fail and contains a variety of question types, including multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank.

After you receive official notice that you passed the exam, you can apply for licensure through your state’s nursing board. Most licensure applications require proof of graduation from an accredited nursing program, your NCLEX-RN test results and, in some cases, a background check.

Gain Experience

It’s common for recent nursing grads to gain work experience in general nursing before moving into a specialty like oncology.

“Jobs in inpatient units that care for general medical-surgical patients with cancer are a common place for new nursing graduates to get their start,” says Weimer. “Transitioning to units or departments that are dedicated to oncology care that treat critically ill patients or are providing intensive treatments may prefer nurses to have some experience before hiring them.”

It’s common for recent nursing grads to gain work experience in general nursing before moving into a specialty like oncology.

Weimer says that outpatient oncology areas “can be a challenging transition for new nurses, as the routine practice in these areas is not the focus of what is taught in nursing school. With the right preceptor and leader, new nurses can be successful in these areas but may need a longer orientation and training period to be fully independent in practice.”

Certification

Getting certified is optional, but it’s a great way to demonstrate your expertise. The professional recognition that comes with certification can also qualify you for more job opportunities and possibly lead to higher pay.

The basic certification for oncology nurses is the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) credential, but you’ll need to gain professional experience before you can earn it.

Specialty Certifications

If you want to focus on one aspect of oncology nursing, there are specialty certifications you can earn as well:

How Much Do Oncology Nurses Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), RNs earn a median salary of $81,220. The BLS doesn’t differentiate between different types of nurses, but nurses who specialize tend to earn higher salaries.

Job Outlook

The BLS predicts that job openings for registered nurses will grow 5.6% through 2032, which is close to the average growth rate for all occupations.

Although the BLS notes that job prospects for all nurses are good, it also says RNs with a specialty and/or a BSN may have a competitive edge when applying for positions.

“All nursing roles are in demand right now, including those in oncology,” says Weimer. “Oncology is an exciting and rapidly changing field. It provides numerous opportunities for nurses to explore various practice settings while still using all their skills and knowledge to continue to practice at the top of their licensure.”

Although the BLS notes that job prospects for all nurses are good, it also says RNs with a specialty and/or a BSN may have a competitive edge when applying for positions.

Professional Resources

Tapping into professional associations and other resources can help you advance your career by expanding your network of colleagues, helping you stay on top of developments in your field, and advancing your skills and expertise. Resources like these may help you navigate your career as you move forward or alert you to new positions.

Here are a few professional resources to check out: