Oncology nurses are an integral part of the cancer care team, providing consistent information and guidance throughout the treatment plan. They are responsible for caring for people of all ages who have been diagnosed with cancer, supporting them and their families through the stress of diagnosis and treatment. Oncology nurses coordinate the many aspects of a patient's care, provide education about the disease, guide them through treatment, and connect them with support groups and other local resources. They also assess a patient's physical and emotional state, previous health history, health practices, and knowledge of the disease and its treatment.
In addition, they help ease patients' pain and nausea and help implement the treatment plan that is best for the patient. Oncology nurses have the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, forming deep and trusting relationships with patients and their families over time. Upon completion of the program, nurses qualify for certifications as a certified nurse practitioner in oncology or a certified clinical nurse specialist in advanced oncology. The ONCC provides a convenient online tool to help you calculate if you have enough experience in cancer nursing to sit for a certification exam.
